EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe Indianapolis Colts are re-signing wide receiver Alec Pierce but are trading his running mate Michael Pittman Jr. out of town.Pierce is returning to the Colts with a four-year, $116 million deal and are trading Pittman to the Pittsburgh Steelers in a swap of late round draft picks, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Trading Pittman Jr. will open up $24 million in salary cap space for the Colts.The Colts announced Pierce's return but did not disclose terms. Pierce appeared on The Pat McAfee Show after the deal was announced."Those opportunities started flooding in, but I knew where my heart was. I loved the city of Indianapolis. I just seen where we were at last year, early in the year, kind of rolling. I truly believe we were the No. 1 team in the NFL and just obviously didn't finish out the season like we should have. But I think we get back to where we were," Pierce said.Pittman (6-foot-4, 223 pounds) had 80 catches for 784 yards and seven touchdowns last season, his sixth with the Colts. He gives the Steelers another big-bodied wide receiver to pair with DK Metcalf (6-foot-4, 229 pounds).Pierce's return was uncertain after the Colts used the transition tag on quarterback Daniel Jones, allowing Pierce to become a free agent. However, a deal averaging $29 million per season ensured Pierce's return.Pierce had his best season as a pro in 2025, surpassing 1,000 receiving yards for the first time and leading the NFL in yards per catch for the second straight year. He finished with 1,003 receiving yards on 47 catches for a 21.3 yards-per-reception average.Already one of the best deep-ball threats in the game, Pierce further solidified himself in that regard; 36.2% of his receptions were for 20 yards or longer. Pierce also was sure-handed; he had a career-low one dropped pass.The Colts began 2025 with the hottest offense in the NFL. A huge part of that success was due to running back Jonathan Taylor. But the ability of Pierce to stretch defenses was also transformative; with teams reluctant to pull defenders closer to the line of scrimmage lest the receiver beat them deep, running lanes for Taylor opened.A second-round draft pick out of Cincinnati in 2022, Pierce has led the Colts in receiving yards each of the past two seasons. And he has done it without enjoying a large percentage of the team's passing targets. In fact, he hasn't ranked higher than third in team target share in either season, underscoring his efficiency.ESPN's Stephen Holder contributed to his report.
