NFL trade rumors will start to swirl slowly as teams get a chance to look at their rosters in minicamps
With NFL rookie minicamps underway, teams get a chance to start to evaluate the prospects they drafted in ways they couldn’t before. Often, whether good or bad, an adjustment in evaluation is possible within just a few days.
For the Cleveland Browns, and their biggest roster hole, there isn’t a receiver from their NFL draft class to evaluate, which could allow an undrafted free agent or tryout player to get a chance at the position. Friday, we shared a rumor that WR Brandon Aiyuk could be available, but Aiyuk may not be alone as trade rumors start up again.
With teams starting to see what they have, including voluntary activities for veterans starting before the NFL draft, could Indianapolis Colts WR Alec Pierce be on the trade block?
Pro Football Focus suggests that the Browns should attempt to make a deal for Pierce to fill their need for a starting X receiver:
One option could be Alec Pierce, who played with Joe Flacco in Indianapolis last season, where he earned a 73.3 PFF receiving grade while catching passes from the veteran.
Pierce was a second-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft. In three seasons, he’s caught 110 passes for 1,931 yards and 11 touchdowns, including seven last season. In 2024, Pierce led the NFL with a 22.3 yards per catch average on 37 receptions.
In the seven games that Flacco played last year, Pierce had 19 receptions for 444 yards and four touchdowns. Over half of Pierce’s production in 2024 came with Cleveland’s current quarterback in six and a half games with Flacco.
Looking back to when the University of Cincinnati prospect was drafted, Pierce’s athletic testing fits the outside, X receiver position well, as he lacks some of the movement skills of other positions but has good size to go along with elite speed and explosion:
#3 #RAS WR 2022
Alec Pierce is a WR prospect in the 2022 draft class. He scored a 9.82 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 51 out of 2768 WR from 1987 to 2022. https://t.co/cQXuHGOnQX #RAS pic.twitter.com/KRd3yWqwG8
— RAS.football (@MathBomb) April 13, 2022
Heading into the final year of his rookie contract, Pierce would cost a little over $3 million against the salary cap. The Colts did not sign a receiver of note in free agency, nor did they select a single receiver in this year’s draft. Josh Downs and Michael Pittman Jr. lead the team’s depth chart, with last year’s second-round pick Adonai Mitchell waiting in the wings, but Indianapolis may not be eager to move on from Pierce without a solid return.
For Cleveland, Pierce would be a fine pickup if the price is right. Swapping a Day 3 selection in 2026 or a player-for-player trade (Greg Newsome II and Ogbo Okoronkwo have been rumored to be available) might work, but Pierce would be a one-year rental before hitting free agency.
Do you think Pierce is a good fit to fill the Browns outside receiver need? If so, what would you trade for him?
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