The Buffalo Bills enter this offseason with one mission that’s impossible to miss: give Josh Allen more firepower. After another season that fell short of Super Bowl expectations, the message is loud and clear-Buffalo needs to upgrade its receiving corps, and fast.
And while the NFL Draft is always a tempting place to find young talent, the urgency surrounding Allen’s championship window suggests the Bills might not have the luxury of waiting for a rookie to develop. That’s where free agency comes into play, and one name that continues to surface in connection with Buffalo is Alec Pierce.
Now, A.J. Brown’s name has been floated in various conversations, and sure, that would be a blockbuster. But let’s talk about Pierce, because there’s growing traction around the idea of him being a strong fit in Buffalo’s offense.
CBS Sports’ Jared Dubin recently pointed out that the Bills need a big-bodied outside receiver-someone who can stretch the field and open up space underneath for Khalil Shakir and Dalton Kincaid. Offensive coordinator Joe Brady reportedly wants Keon Coleman to become that guy, but banking on a player to suddenly become something he hasn’t been yet is a risky proposition. That’s where Pierce fits the bill-literally and figuratively.
Pierce brings size, speed, and a vertical element that Buffalo’s offense could desperately use. He’s not a WR1 in the mold of a Ja’Marr Chase or Justin Jefferson, but he doesn’t need to be. What he does bring is the ability to win on the outside, command attention from opposing secondaries, and create more room for Allen’s other weapons to operate.
Financially, the move is very doable. Spotrac has Pierce’s projected market value at $20.2 million per year-a significant number, but not one that would break the bank, especially for a team that knows it’s in win-now mode.
He’s not going to command top-tier receiver money, but he’s also not a bargain-bin pickup. This is a calculated investment in Allen’s prime.
So the question becomes: Do the Bills pull the trigger on a proven outside threat in free agency, or do they roll the dice in the draft again?
Considering where this team is in its competitive arc, the answer feels obvious. Josh Allen is in his prime.
The defense is aging. The window is open, but it won’t stay that way forever.
A player like Pierce won’t solve everything, but he checks a lot of boxes-affordable, experienced, and stylistically aligned with what this offense needs.
If the Bills are serious about taking that next step, this is the kind of move that makes sense. Strategic, not splashy. Practical, but impactful.
And most importantly, it gives Allen a better shot at doing what he’s more than capable of-bringing a Lombardi Trophy to Buffalo.