Earlier this week, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported that the Indianapolis Colts are expected to place the franchise tag on wide receiver Alec Pierce. It's a huge letdown for the New Orleans Saints, who were sure to be one of the teams targeting the star wide receiver.
A former second-round draft pick, Pierce gathered 1,003 receiving yards last season, the first time he's had a comma in his receiving yards numbers in his professional career. It was also in 47 receptions, which is the fewest catches to reach 1,000 yards since DeSean Jackson did it with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2010 on 47 catches.
Pierce is the second player in this cycle New Orleans has lost to a planned franchise tag, with the news breaking that the New York Jets are expected to tag running back Breece Hall. Thankfully, it's not the end of the world for the Saints. They currently have the ability to sit and be patient for another wide receiver if they have to.
Alec Pierce is the kind of WR the Saints should be looking for
It's a letdown that Alec Pierce is going to get the franchise tag because he is the exact kind of wide receiver that the Saints could use. Stats aside, he is a guy New Orleans would target just based on his size alone, which is 6'3", 211 lbs.
On the field, Peirce has shown the ability to make contested catches on a consistent basis, something the Saints haven't been able to say about themselves lately. He's also led the NFL for the past two seasons in a row in yards per reception, with 22.3 in 2024 and 21.3 in 2025.
There are some players eligible for the draft this year that fit the same mold as Pierce. The most notable player is Denzel Boston, a wide receiver from Washington. He, like the Colts receiver, stands tall and rips the ball away from receivers. Boston has also gotten better with each season he's played and finished his junior year with a career-high average of 74.3 receiving yards a game. Boston has shown the ability to be a vertical threat, which is another skill Pierce flashed last season.
One of Boston's more impressive catches of the season not only showcases how strong his hands are but also his ability to use his 6'4", 210 lb frame to his advantage, catching a ball in the face of a Rutgers defender for a score. Boston has the measurables of an NFL receiver; he's nearly the same height and weight as Pierce and possesses a skillset that can benefit the Saints. A player who won't be on the board for long, the Saints should grab Boston if he is still on the board at 42.