The New York Jets made some midseason noise last year, reshaping their wide receiver room at the trade deadline with the additions of Adonai Mitchell and John Metchie. Credit to GM Darren Mougey for pulling off those moves-they injected much-needed speed and upside into an offense that had been leaning far too heavily on Garrett Wilson.
But let's not forget: Mougey was also the one who rolled into the season with Allen Lazard, Josh Reynolds, and Tyler Johnson as the primary options behind Wilson. That gamble didn’t pay off, and heading into 2026, the Jets can’t afford to make the same mistake twice.
If the Jets want to build a sustainable, quarterback-friendly offense-especially one that can survive stretches without Wilson-they need more than just “nice pieces.” Mitchell and Metchie bring promise, but they’re not the kind of proven perimeter threats that demand defensive attention week in and week out. That’s where Alec Pierce enters the conversation.
Pierce, who’s set to hit free agency after a breakout season in Indianapolis, would be a fascinating fit in New York. He’s not just a burner-though with a league-leading 21.3 yards per catch, he’s certainly that-he’s evolved into one of the NFL’s most dangerous downfield weapons.
His 2025 campaign saw him post career highs with 47 catches, 1,003 yards, and six touchdowns. That kind of production doesn’t go unnoticed.
There’s also a built-in connection here. New Jets offensive coordinator Frank Reich knows Pierce well-he was the one who drafted him back in 2022 during his time as Colts head coach. Reich coached Pierce for nearly two seasons before being let go in 2023, and that familiarity could make a difference if the Jets decide to make a push.
But here’s the catch: Pierce isn’t going to come cheap. With a thin free agent market at wide receiver-especially if George Pickens gets franchise tagged by Dallas-Pierce is one of the top names available.
That scarcity is driving up his value, and projections suggest he could command close to $20 million per year on his next deal. Spotrac even pegs his market value at four years, $80.9 million.
That kind of number raises a big-picture question for the Jets: Are they willing to commit over $20 million annually to two wide receivers? Garrett Wilson is already in that ballpark, and adding Pierce would be doubling down in a big way.
But if the goal is to give their quarterback-whoever that may be-the best possible environment to succeed, then it’s a move worth considering. A trio of Wilson, Pierce, and Mitchell would be the deepest receiving corps the Jets have fielded in years.
Of course, this all hinges on what Indianapolis decides to do. The Colts have two major free agents to deal with-Pierce and quarterback Daniel Jones-and only one franchise tag to go around.
If they can’t lock up Jones, logic says they’ll tag him, which could free up Pierce to hit the open market. But if a deal with Jones gets done, the Colts could pivot and tag Pierce instead, locking him in for one more year at a hefty $28.8 million.
So for now, the Jets will have to wait and see how the Colts play their hand. But make no mistake-if Alec Pierce becomes available, he’s exactly the kind of player who could take this Jets offense from respectable to legitimately dangerous.