Could Alec Pierce Be the Deep Threat the 49ers Have Been Missing?
Alec Pierce is heading into free agency, and his name is starting to surface in some intriguing places - most notably, the Bay Area. After a breakout campaign with the Indianapolis Colts in 2025, the 6-foot-3, 215-pound wide receiver is drawing attention from teams looking to add size, speed, and big-play potential to their receiving corps. And one of those teams, reportedly, is the San Francisco 49ers.
NBC insider Matt Maiocco recently floated Pierce as a player to watch when free agency opens, calling him a potential fit for San Francisco’s offense - a unit that, despite making the playoffs, struggled to consistently stretch the field in 2025.
Let’s break this down.
What Makes Alec Pierce an Appealing Target?
Pierce isn’t just another name in the free agent pool - he’s coming off the best season of his young career. In 2025, the former second-round pick put up 1,003 receiving yards and six touchdowns on just 47 catches across 15 games.
That’s over 21 yards per reception - a clear indicator of his vertical threat. Simply put, when Pierce gets the ball, it’s usually for a chunk of yardage.
He’s not a slot guy. Pierce does his damage outside the numbers, where his size and speed combo becomes a problem for smaller corners.
At 6'3", he can win contested catches, and with legit top-end speed, he can take the top off a defense. That’s the kind of profile that doesn’t just fit into a system - it adds a new dimension to it.
Why the 49ers?
San Francisco had another strong season in 2025, making it to the divisional round after knocking off the Eagles in the wild-card round. But if there was one clear weakness, it was the lack of a consistent deep threat.
Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel are dynamic in their own right, but neither is a pure vertical receiver. The 49ers offense thrives on timing, misdirection, and yards after the catch - but when defenses start crowding the line and daring you to go over the top, you need someone who can make them pay.
That’s where Pierce could come in.
Adding a player like Pierce would give Kyle Shanahan a true outside burner - someone who forces safeties to stay honest and opens up the underneath game for guys like George Kittle and Christian McCaffrey. It’s not just about throwing more deep balls. It’s about creating space and keeping defenses off balance.
What’s Next for Pierce?
Pierce signed a four-year rookie deal with the Colts back in 2022, and now he’s set to test the market. After putting up the kind of numbers he did in 2025, he’s earned that opportunity. The Colts, who started last season 8-2 before collapsing down the stretch with seven straight losses, have some big decisions to make - and whether or not to bring Pierce back is near the top of the list.
If he hits the open market, he won’t come cheap. Big-play receivers with size and speed rarely do. But for a team like San Francisco, which is already built to contend and just needs a few final pieces, Pierce might be worth the investment.
He’s not just a luxury - he could be the missing piece that helps unlock another level of the 49ers offense.
So keep an eye on this one. Alec Pierce may not be the biggest name in free agency, but he could end up being one of the most impactful - especially if he lands in the right system. And in San Francisco, that system might just be waiting for him.