The Indianapolis Colts are facing a big decision this offseason when it comes to wide receiver Alec Pierce - and the franchise tag could be part of the plan.
Now, let’s be clear: tagging Pierce wouldn’t necessarily mean the Colts want him to play the entire 2026 season on a one-year deal. The move would be more strategic than that. Think of it as a temporary lock while the front office works on something more permanent.
The franchise tag is a tool NFL teams can use once per offseason to keep a pending free agent from hitting the open market. It’s essentially a one-year contract with a salary based on the average of the top five highest-paid players at the same position. For wide receivers in 2026, that number is projected to be a hefty $28.82 million, according to Over the Cap.
That’s a serious chunk of change - and it would hit the Colts' salary cap all at once for the upcoming season. So why would Indianapolis consider it?
It comes down to leverage and time. General manager Chris Ballard has made it clear he values Pierce and wants to keep him in Indy long-term.
But negotiating a multi-year deal can take time, and the franchise tag gives the Colts breathing room. It keeps Pierce from testing the open market while both sides work toward a contract extension.
We’ve seen this playbook before. Just two offseasons ago, the Colts used the same approach with Michael Pittman Jr. They tagged him, bought themselves time, and eventually hammered out a long-term extension that made sense for both sides - and significantly reduced his cap hit compared to the one-year tag figure.
That’s likely the route Ballard and the Colts are eyeing again. Tagging Pierce doesn’t mean they’re locking him into a one-year, $28.82 million deal. It means they’re serious about keeping him - and they’re willing to use every tool available to make sure that happens.
Bottom line: If Alec Pierce gets tagged, it’s not a sign of hesitation from the Colts. It’s a sign they want him in the building for the long haul - and they’re taking the necessary steps to make that happen.