The Denver Broncos made it to the AFC Championship game, but with Bo Nix forced to sit out due to an ankle injury, their odds to beat the New England Patriots were slim.
Now, looking forward to the 2026 season, the Broncos need to add more to the offense, specifically, in the wide receiver room. The Broncos' offense needs more juice, and there's a great playmaking wide receiver who fits that description.
Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report identified the Broncos "perfect" free agent target this offseason, calling out Indianapolis Colts playmaker Alec Pierce as a great fit for the Broncos offense, needing more help for Nix in 2026.
Broncos linked to Alec Pierce as 'perfect' free agent fit
"However, there's still some juice missing from the receiver room," Ballentine writes. "They have some good complementary pieces around Courtland Sutton, but Pierce's ability to stretch the field would unlock even more levels to the passing game. That would make the Broncos even scarier in January."
Denver has one of the best defenses in the NFL. For the most part, it is staying the same in 2026. But the offensive side of the ball needs some help.
A running back to pair with RJ Harvey and a tight end to replace the departing Evan Engram are two major needs. But a wide receiver like Pierce would be exactly what the offense needs.
Pierce is a 25-year-old WR who is coming off an impressive 2025 season for the Colts. He had 1,003 receiving yards and six touchdowns on 47 receptions. His 21.3 yards-per-reception led the NFL.
The year prior in 2024, Pierce led the league in yards-per-reception with 22.3 on 824 receiving yards on 37 catches with seven touchdowns.
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Pierce is one of the best big-play receivers in the NFL, and for a Broncos offense sorely lacking in that explosiveness and true field-stretching ability, Pierce would be a fantastic free agent target for Denver this offseason.
There is one issue, however, and it's that the Colts seemingly don't want to let the 2022 second-rounder walk. Unless Pierce agrees to an extension or gets franchise/transition tagged, he's going to hit the open market, and the Broncos will have a chance.
But the Colts also need to figure out what to do with Daniel Jones, and that might involve a franchise tag.
Pierce's chances of hitting the open market are decent, but until it's official, the Broncos will have to wait for their "perfect" free agent target to hit free agency this offseason.
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