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The San Francisco 49ers will have roughly $41 million in cap space to spend this offseason, per Over the Cap. Although head coach Kyle Shanahan and his staff overcame injuries, there is still a talent shortage in some positions, such as wide receiver.<\/p>\n
Jauan Jennings could walk as a free agent while the Niners are likely cutting ties with Brandon Aiyuk this offseason. Ricky Pearsall is young and talented, but he\u2019s injury-prone. As a result, the 49ers need to revamp their wideout group.<\/p>\n
One potential target in free agency is Indianapolis Colts wideout Alec Pierce. The Colts\u2019 standout posted 47 catches for 1,003 yards and scored six touchdowns in 15 games during the 2025 season, per StatMuse.<\/p>\n
Nonetheless, On SI\u2019s Grant Cohn is warning the Niners to stay away from Pierce in free agency as he won\u2019t fill the need of a No. 1 wideout.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnlike Jennings, Pierce is fast and young,\u201d Cohn wrote in his article published on Feb. 16. \u201cHe\u2019s only 25. Last season, he averaged 21.3 yards per catch. He\u2019s one of the best deep threats in the NFL, and he\u2019s going to cost roughly $20 million per season. And the 49ers shouldn\u2019t give it to him.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe 49ers need a No. 1 receiver, not an expensive No. 2. If they could get AJ Brown or Justin Jefferson, great. Pierce isn\u2019t those guys. He averaged a career-high 3.1 catches per game last season. He\u2019s limited.<\/p>\n
\u201cInstead of spending all that money on a complementary player who will spend most of his time running clear-out routes, the 49ers should invest that money in the trenches.\u201d<\/p>\n
49ers Insider Has Different Take on Alec Pierce<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, NBC Sports Bay Area\u2019s Matt Maiocco believes that Pierce is an ideal target for the 49ers in free agency.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe player that I would keep an eye on from the free\u2011agent market is scheduled to hit the market and probably will not be designated as a franchise player by his team, and that is Alec Pierce from the Indianapolis Colts,\u201d Maiocco said in a YouTube video on Feb. 13. \u201cWhen I look at Pierce, this is a guy who has good size \u2014 6\u2011foot\u20113 and 215 pounds.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s very fast. He\u2019s not a slot receiver, so he\u2019d be playing on the outside. But the one thing that really separates him is just his ability to make big plays, and that is something that the San Francisco 49ers offense was severely lacking in 2025.\u201d<\/p>\n
What Would Alec Pierce Bring to the Niners<\/p>\n
Furthermore, Maiocco highlighted key traits Pierce brings that would make him a valuable piece for the Niners in 2026, should the team beat out the competition and sign him this offseason.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe ability to stretch the field, the ability to make big plays,\u201d Maiocco added. \u201cI also think that the quarterback situation with the Colts has kind of limited what Alec Pierce can do. In the last couple of years, the Colts\u2019 quarterback situation was really bad, except for a few games last season when Daniel Jones was playing at a high level. Last year, Alec Pierce was targeted 84 times, catching only 47 of those.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s not a great percentage, but I put more of that on the Colts\u2019 offense and the quarterback than on Pierce. He still had 1,003 receiving yards and six touchdowns, and that 21.3 yards\u2011per\u2011reception average is the kind of offensive spark that the 49ers need.\u201d<\/p>\n
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