The Indianapolis Colts made waves at the trade deadline by acquiring cornerback Sauce Gardner from the New York Jets, sending two first-round picks in return. But as of today, that blockbuster trade feels like old news.
With the NFL's free agency period opening up at noon EST, teams can start agreeing to terms with free agents, though contracts can't be officially signed until the new league year kicks off on March 11 at 4 p.m. EST. The Colts have wasted no time diving into the action.
Initially, there was buzz about the Colts and their recently tagged quarterback Daniel Jones being at an impasse over a long-term deal, as reported by Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer. However, that quickly took a backseat when The Pat McAfee Show broke the news that Indianapolis and wide receiver Alec Pierce have agreed to a four-year, $116 million contract.
Pierce's new deal had immediate repercussions, leading to the trade of wide receiver Michael Pittman to the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. This move also caught the attention of Gardner.
Gardner had previously joked on X (formerly Twitter) about locking Pierce in his basement to ensure he signed with the Colts. After Pierce's deal was announced, Gardner humorously followed up with, "It worked chat."
It's no wonder Gardner is pleased. Pierce, now 25, has become one of the premier deep-ball threats in the league since being drafted by Indianapolis in the second round of 2022.
He led the NFL in 2024 with an impressive 22.3 yards per reception and followed it up with his best season yet in 2025. That year, Pierce again topped the league in yards per catch (21.3) and achieved his first 1,000-yard receiving season, adding six touchdowns to his resume.
Pierce and Jones have shown a strong connection on the field, even though Jones suffered a torn Achilles in December. Looking ahead, the Colts are likely focused on securing Jones with a long-term contract. If that doesn't pan out, or if Jones doesn't sign elsewhere, he'll play under a one-year, $37.83 million transition tag in 2026.