The Pittsburgh Steelers and Denver Broncos both enter this offseason with a clear objective: upgrade at wide receiver. And with Alec Pierce potentially hitting the open market, both teams may have their eyes on the same big-play target.
Let’s start with Pittsburgh. Over the past two seasons, the Steelers have largely ignored the receiver position in free agency and the draft-and it’s shown.
The offense has lacked consistency, explosiveness, and the kind of vertical threat that keeps defenses honest. DK Metcalf has done what he can, but he needs help.
A true No. 2 option who can stretch the field would go a long way in unlocking this offense.
Denver, meanwhile, finds itself in a similar position-but for slightly different reasons. Courtland Sutton remains a reliable presence, but the depth behind him is thin and short on experience. The Broncos need someone who can not only complement Sutton but also bring speed and downfield playmaking to the table.
That’s where Alec Pierce comes in.
Pierce is coming off a breakout season with the Colts, crossing the 1,000-yard threshold for the first time and once again leading the league in yards per catch. That’s not a fluke.
It’s the second straight year he’s topped the league in that category, solidifying his status as one of the NFL’s premier deep threats. He’s the kind of receiver who forces safeties to backpedal and defensive coordinators to rethink their coverage schemes.
At just 25 years old, Pierce is entering the prime of his career, and his market value reflects that. Projections have him commanding a deal in the ballpark of four years and $94 million-right in line with the kind of money Michael Pittman Jr. is expected to earn. That’s a hefty price tag, but teams covet exactly what Pierce brings: field-stretching ability, big-play production, and the kind of presence that opens up the underneath game for tight ends and slot receivers.
So who’s in the best position to land him?
The Steelers have a slight financial edge, with roughly $16 million more in cap space than the Broncos. That flexibility could give them more room to structure a front-loaded deal or address other roster needs while still adding a high-priced receiver.
But Denver isn’t out of the race. While the Broncos may not have the same cap cushion, they also don’t have as many glaring holes to fill across the roster. That means they could afford to go big on one or two marquee additions-and Pierce fits that bill.
Both teams make sense as landing spots. In Pittsburgh, Pierce would slot in opposite Metcalf and instantly boost a passing game that’s lacked vertical juice. In Denver, he’d be a dynamic complement to Sutton, giving the Broncos a legitimate 1-2 punch on the outside.
Of course, the Colts haven’t given up hope of keeping him. They know what they have in Pierce, and it’s safe to assume they’ll make a strong push to re-sign him. But if Pierce decides to test the market-and with his stock at an all-time high, there’s every reason to believe he might-he’ll be one of the most sought-after receivers in free agency.
Bottom line: Alec Pierce is a game-changer, and both the Steelers and Broncos know it. Whether it’s Pittsburgh’s cap space or Denver’s roster stability that wins out remains to be seen. But either way, whoever lands him is getting a legit deep threat who can shift the balance of an offense.