Monday was a transformational day for the Colts wide receivers room — for better and for worse.
The celebratory end: After Alec Pierce stated his intentions to enter free agency as the most sought-after wide receiver on the market, Colts general manager Chris Ballard locked up Pierce on a record-setting deal. At as much as $116 million over four years, including $60 million guaranteed at signing and $84 million fully guaranteed, Pierce became the highest-paid free agent wide receiver in NFL history, while Indianapolis held onto a young wideout who over the last two years has become one of the best deep threats in the league and at 25 is becoming a true all-around playmaker.
Paving the way for such a lucrative deal, though, comes with a cost. Less than an hour after Pierce’s deal was confirmed, the Colts had agreed to terms on a deal that sent veteran receiver Michael Pittman Jr. — the franchise’s unquestioned No. 1 receiver from 2021-24 — to the Steelers for a late-round draft pick exchange. The move opened up $24 million in cap savings for 2026 and will allow Pierce to carry a heavier load in the passing game moving forward, but it sends off a second long-time veteran from the Colts’ roster, joining the recently trade linebacker Zaire Franklin.
Colts wide receivers coach Reggie Wayne — a longtime WR1 in Indianapolis turned NFL coach and hopeful future Hall of Famer — has long been a vocal supporter of the wideouts that make up his room, one who lamented that Indianapolis couldn’t find a way to make things work for Adonai Mitchell, whom the team sent to the Jets in November in a trade for Sauce Gardner. Several times throughout the season, Wayne made public pleas to reporters for the franchise to re-sign Pierce ASAP, saying variations of the following quip: “His arrow is going up, just like his price tag.”
Conflicted on Monday’s news, Wayne posted this on X: ‘Happy for Alec. But I hate it for Pitt. He set the tone for the room each and everyday.’ (He finished off the message with three bourbon glass emojis.)
Joel A. Erickson and Nathan Brown cover the Colts all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Colts Insider newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Reggie Wayne reacts to free agency deals for Alec Pierce, Michael Pittman Jr.
Reporting by Nathan Brown, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
