Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce will enter his first season as the clear-cut top option at wideout following the departure of Michael Pittman Jr.
Pierce had a career year in Indianapolis last season, eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark for the first time, while also again leading the league in yards per reception.
The rising star earned himself a four-year, $114 million extension in free agency this offseason as a result, and Pierce could quickly begin playing at an even higher level in 2026.
However, despite Pierce’s surge, he remains largely underrated, with some questioning the contract he received.
Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox recently revealed his list of the most underrated wide receivers in the NFL entering 2026, and Pierce was listed at No. 2.
“Alec Pierce generated plenty of headlines at the start of free agency, as his four-year, $114 million extension came in much higher than many fans might have expected,” Knox wrote. “The Cincinnati product was, after all, a relative unknown outside of Indianapolis and fantasy football circles. However, Pierce possesses something that few other NFL receivers do. His combination of size (6’3″, 211 lbs), elite speed (4.33-second 40-yard dash), and sure hands makes him a legitimate big-play threat. Pierce’s production jumped alongside the emergence of quarterback Daniel Jones in 2025, and he posted his first 1,000-yard campaign. However, he consistently flashed his deep-threat ability since entering the league as a second-round pick in 2022. In each of the past two seasons, Pierce has led the NFL in yards per catch. Despite the payday and the notoriety that has come along with it, Pierce is still being overlooked. In the fantasy realm, that may be because he’s still recovering from offseason ankle surgery. In the real world, he simply isn’t viewed as a true No. 1 receiver. If Jones can stay healthy in 2026 and the Colts offense can continue growing, though, Pierce’s yardage production could realistically go from top 20 to top 10 this season.”
Without Pittman, there are a lot more targets to go around this season, and Pierce, along with others, will have to take on a larger role to make up for that absence. Although known for his big play abilities, last season in particular, Pierce developed into a more well-rounded wideout, which should also create more ways to get him the ball.
Pierce will enter his fifth season in Indianapolis as arguably the most underrated wide receiver one in all of football. The receiver will look to pick up right where he left off last year, and Pierce now finds himself in prime position to silence his doubters once and for all in 2026.
This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Colts’ player ranked among most ‘underrated’ at position group
Reporting by Jake Boico, Colts Wire / Colts Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jake Boico, Colts Wire | USA TODAY Network
