Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce should compete right away for a starting role opposite Michael Pittman Jr., and part of that is due to how well he projects to fit within the offense.
Pierce’s size, speed and athletic prowess will go along way in meshing with veteran quarterback Matt Ryan. His ball skills should also allow him to earn the trust of the 36-year-old quarterback relatively quickly.
Pierce was featured on the list of best draft fits by Matt Bowen of ESPN, furthering the notion that this selection could have production very early.
Why he is a perfect fit: Pierce is a boundary X target for quarterback Matt Ryan who can also shift inside to create matchups out of slot or trips sets, making him a really good fit for Frank Reich’s offense. He is at his best on the move — running fades, overs, shallows and speed outs — and the Colts can scheme up Pierce off play-action for Ryan. Watch for them to create windows at the second level or isolate the rookie as a vertical target.
With his foot quickness and play strength, Pierce can set up press coverage, and we know he can be a primary option for Ryan inside the red zone. Throw the slants there and cater to Pierce’s 6-foot-3 frame and leaping ability on end zone targets, and I expect Pierce’s route tree to expand even more in a pro system.
There is still a lot of development left for Pierce in terms of expanding that route tree, but he’s already shown promise against press coverage on his college tape.
The Colts need Pierce to step up into a role given the uncertainties surrounding the rest of the room, but the fit within the offense bodes well for some early production.
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