The Las Vegas Raiders should have a new head coach soon, which means they will be able to turn their sights to free agency and the NFL Draft. Wide receiver remains a huge need for the team.
Jakobi Meyers got traded during the season, and no wide receiver was able to step up. It’s possible that Dont’e Thornton and Jack Bech still have potential, but the Raiders need at least one proven option.
While the draft is a possibility, Las Vegas will likely use the No. 1 pick to draft Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza. The team may want at least one dependable veteran wide receiver for him to throw to.
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce is coming off a career year. He caught 47 passes for 1,003 yards in 2025. He averaged 21.3 yards per catch, which was second in the NFL. He’s an elite downfield threat to potentially pair with Mendoza. Zachary Pereles of CBS Sports named the Raiders among the best fits for Pierce in free agency.
“Pierce is young (25) and fast: He’s led the NFL in yards per catch in consecutive seasons, and he became the first player since A.J. Brown in 2019 to go over 1,000 yards on at least 20 yards per catch,” Pereles wrote.
Pierce Could Get $30 Million a Year
George Pickens is the top free agent wide receiver in 2026, and Pierce is considered to be the second-best option. Though he doesn’t put up huge volume, he’s already proven that he’s one of the best deep threats in the NFL.
And he’s been doing it with questionable quarterback play. Unfortunately, with a lack of great wide receiver talent in free agency, Pierce is going to cost a lot of money. ESPN’s Bill Barnwell sees the wide receiver getting a contract that pays him a huge salary.
“I don’t think it’s wild at all to suggest that Pierce could be looking at something in the ballpark of $30 million per year in free agency, which brings the franchise tag into play,” Barnwell wrote. “The 2026 tag for wide receivers is projected to come in at $28.1 million. A second franchise tag in 2027 would be a minimum of $33.7 million. If the Colts want to re-sign Pierce (or if Pierce hits the market), I would expect his asking price to be a minimum of $62 million guaranteed over the first two seasons. That’s a lot of money for a player who hasn’t profiled as a No. 1 receiver over his career, but true top-end speed is hard to come by.”
Raiders Have Money to Spend
$30 million a year might seem like a lot for a player like Pierce, but the Raiders have money to spend. According to Spotrac, Las Vegas is projected to have $88.6 million in salary cap space, which is second-most in the NFL.
The Raiders decided against spending big last offseason, so this could be the year they decide to be big spenders. With so many holes all over the roster, they shouldn’t have any problem finding players who could fit their needs. It’s just a matter of making sure the team spends money on the right players.
Raiders Named Fit for 25-Year-Old Emerging Star WR