The Indianapolis Colts are re-signing large receiver Alec Pierce however are buying and selling his operating mate Michael Pittman Jr. out of city.
Pierce is returning to the Colts with a four-year, $116 million deal and are buying and selling Pittman to the Pittsburgh Steelers in a swap of late spherical draft picks, sources advised ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The Steelers are giving Pittman a brand new three-year, $59 million deal, in response to NFL Community. Buying and selling Pittman Jr. will open up $24 million in wage cap house for the Colts.
The Colts introduced Pierce’s return however didn’t disclose phrases. Pierce appeared on “The Pat McAfee Present” after the deal was introduced.
“These alternatives began flooding in, however I knew the place my coronary heart was. I beloved town of Indianapolis. I simply seen the place we have been eventually yr, early within the yr, type of rolling. I really consider we have been the No. 1 crew within the NFL and simply clearly did not end out the season like we should always have. However I feel we get again to the place we have been,” Pierce mentioned.
Pittman (6-foot-4, 223 kilos) had 80 catches for 784 yards and 7 touchdowns final season, his sixth with the Colts. He provides the Steelers one other big-bodied large receiver to pair with DK Metcalf (6-foot-4, 229 kilos).
The Colts on Monday additionally agreed to a two-year, $20 million contract with former Tennessee Titans go rusher Arden Key, Athletes First introduced. Key’s addition comes as Colts defensive finish Kwity Paye agreed to a three-year, $48 million contract, sources advised ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Pierce’s return was unsure after the Colts used the transition tag on quarterback Daniel Jones, permitting Pierce to turn out to be a free agent. Nevertheless, a deal averaging $29 million per season ensured Pierce’s return.
Pierce had his greatest season as a professional in 2025, surpassing 1,000 receiving yards for the primary time and main the NFL in yards per catch for the second straight yr. He completed with 1,003 receiving yards on 47 catches for a 21.3 yards-per-reception common.
Already the most effective deep-ball threats within the sport, Pierce additional solidified himself in that regard; 36.2% of his receptions have been for 20 yards or longer. Pierce additionally was sure-handed; he had a career-low one dropped go.
The Colts started 2025 with the most well liked offense within the NFL. An enormous a part of that success was attributable to operating again Jonathan Taylor. However the skill of Pierce to stretch defenses was additionally transformative; with groups reluctant to tug defenders nearer to the road of scrimmage lest the receiver beat them deep, operating lanes for Taylor opened.
A second-round draft pick of Cincinnati in 2022, Pierce has led the Colts in receiving yards every of the previous two seasons. And he has carried out it with out having fun with a big share of the crew’s passing targets. The truth is, he hasn’t ranked greater than third in crew goal share in both season, underscoring his effectivity.
The Steelers’ commerce for Pittman comes a yr to the day they despatched a second-round choose to the Seattle Seahawks for Metcalf. Touchdown a No. 2 receiver to pair with Metcalf was among the many Steelers’ high offseason precedence.
The Steelers by no means discovered a method to exchange the manufacturing of large receiver George Pickens after buying and selling him away to the Dallas Cowboys final offseason. Regardless of being suspended for the ultimate two video games due to an altercation with a fan in opposition to the Detroit Lions, Metcalf led all Steelers gamers with 850 receiving yards and 6 landing catches on 59 catches.
Past Metcalf, although, Steelers receivers Calvin Austin III, Roman Wilson, Adam Theilen, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Ben Skowronek and Scotty Miller mixed for simply 866 yards. Working again Kenneth Gainwell completed the season second in receiving yards with 486 on a team-high 73 catches.
Theilen and Valdes-Scantling have been late-season provides because the Steelers tried to provide Aaron Rodgers extra veteran weapons down the stretch. Although Rodgers’ future continues to be undecided, Pittman is the type of receiver who would pair nicely with the 42-year-old quarterback: a dependable, veteran receiver with not less than 65 catches in every of the final 5 seasons.
ESPN’s Stephen Holder and Brooke Pryor contributed to his report.
