Take a look at some of the biggest plays made by Alec Pierce. (0:48) The Indianapolis Colts have been looking for a lethal pass-catching duo for years. To be precise, thirteen. The last time the Colts had two players reach at least 1,000 yards receiving in a season was in 2009, when Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark did it. The last time the team had two wide receivers was in 2006 when Wayne and Marvin Harrison did it. The Colts had a 1,000-yard receiver in 2021. Alec Pierce will have every chance to be the team's second wide receiver next season, as he will seek to join him in that category. He's a great receiver and I love watching him. He had a great year in his second year. I believe he broke 1,000 yards. He is a great player and I would love to learn from him. During his final season at Cincinnati, Pierce's numbers don't scream automatic success. He had 52 catches for 884 yards and eight touchdown in 2021. The reason is that the Bearcats run the ball. The Colts general manager was impressed with the number of yards per catch that the player averaged. The one thing you notice about Pierce is that he gets behind people. The receiver position was deep in the draft class. The Colts didn't have a first-round pick because they sent it to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2021, but they have first-round skills, according to some scouts. Free agency: Grades.
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I didn't know why he wasn't getting talked about in that way, and it will be interesting to see how it all plays out. Absolutely.
The Colts had a high need for a receiver during the off-season. As free agency went on, it became even more of a need, as the Colts sat back and watched as a teammate signed with another team. The Colts haven't shut the door on his possible return, but the 32-year-old likely wouldn't have the same kind of role that he had throughout his career in Indianapolis.
There are opportunities for Pierce to immediately step in and have an impact.
His toughest competition for the No. 2 receiver spot is another second-round pick. Campbell has an issue with his durability. It's hard to be counted on as a reliable receiver if you can't stay on the field. Campbell has played in only 15 games.
The returners combined for just 28 catches and four touchdown last season.
Frank Reich said it will be very competitive. The other day we were talking about this as an offensive staff. There is no depth chart this year. We are competing. We are rolling. We are going to roll the guys through. It's the NFL. All of these guys know that we are going to put the best guys on the field, which is great for them. Everyone will have a chance to compete.
Matt Ryan was one of the first people to hear from after he was drafted by the Colts. The quarterback sent his new receiver a text on draft night, even though he initially wasn't sure if it was him.
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He knows that he was a fan of the relationship between Ryan and Jones, who was the primary receiver for the Atlanta Falcons.
I loved watching Julio Jones as a kid, so that was really awesome to watch Matt Ryan with him, and I hope I can be like him.
He has the ability to line up in the slot, even though he spent most of his time at Cincinnati playing on the outside. Reich's offense relies on a lot of motion, underneath route running, and will feature even more play-action calls with Ryan as the starter.
Pierce has to improve his route running and ability to get off the line of scrimmage. He will have a chance to learn from one of the best in Wayne, the Colts new receivers coach, who had 1,070 receptions for 14,345 yards and 82 touchdown during his career.
I think I'm a guy you can put to the boundary, and I'm able to beat coverage one-on-one with speed and size, being able to go get the ball, being able to stretch the field vertically and hopefully make.
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