After an epic collapse in the second half of the 2025 NFL season, the Indianapolis Colts‘ brass have a lot of work to do during the offseason to get this talented team back on track as a force to be reckoned with in the AFC.
Heading into the NFL offseason, the Colts have a couple of priorities at the top of their list, starting with addressing the immediate futures of star wide receiver Alec Pierce and veteran quarterback Daniel Jones.
Colts Want to Keep Star WR Alec Pierce
GettyHead coach Shane Steichen of the Indianapolis Colts walks with Alec Pierce #14
According to NFL insider Tony Pauline of Essentially Sports, the Colts want Pierce and Jones back in Indianapolis for the foreseeable future.
I’m told the Colts want to keep both Pierce and quarterback Daniel Jones on the roster moving forward. The thinking is that the team will try to get Jones done before free agency begins, then tag Pierce and attempt to sign him to an extended deal. Putting the franchise tag on Pierce would cost an estimated $28 million this season, one million more than the average annual amount he was expected to sign for that I reported earlier this week.
Although Jones is unlikely to play during the 2026 NFL season after suffering a season-ending Achilles injury this past season, the team likes what it saw from the veteran quarterback and is confident he’ll make a full recovery while helping the team reach its true potential once he’s healthy.
As for Pierce, the Colts’ front office had an opportunity to sign Pierce to a contract extension a year ago, which would’ve cost the team far less than he’s demanding now, according to Pauline.
League sources here in Indianapolis say the situation the Colts find themselves in is due to their own negligence. There was a window of opportunity to extend Pierce one year ago when he would’ve cost less than half of his market value today, yet the franchise dragged its feet.
It’ll be an unfortunate mistake for Indianapolis if the rising star ends up signing elsewhere after the season he had in 2025.
Colts GM’s Update on Contract Talks With Daniel Jones & Alec Pierce
GettyDaniel Jones #17 of the Indianapolis Colts
Even though Pierce will have a long list of suitors around the league that are trying to add a player of his caliber to their wide receiver room, Colts general manager Chris Ballard seems confident that they’ll get a deal done, as he claims contract talks are “very positive” with both Jones and Pierce, via John Keim of ESPN.
“It’s been very positive,” Ballard said. “When both sides are driven to get it done, it usually works out in the right way.
“We’re driven, they’re driven.”
Ballard thinks highly of Pierce, which will likely play a big part in contract talks with the 25-year-old wide receiver.
“I’ve always believed in him,” Ballard said of Pierce. “He’s a really freaking good player and he makes some really big plays for us. And he’s still young.”
It’ll be interesting to see how this situation pans out, as retaining Pierce will be crucial to the team’s success in the passing game next season and beyond.
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