Now that the franchise tag window has closed and the Patriots will officially have a chance to sign some of their top targets, like wide receiver Alec Pierce, there are a lot of things they need to figure out about how they will approach the next few weeks, with so many positions needing upgrades.
Rumors suggest that Mike Vrabel and Eliot Wolf are unlikely to spend big money on any free agent, which is the complete opposite of how they handled free agency last year, but there is a chance that a 25-year-old receiver would pique their interest, especially when he sends a strong message to teams that are likely going to pursue him.
After speaking highly of the Colts, who chose to transition tag quarterback Daniel Jones ahead of the deadline rather than franchise tag Pierce, the receiver shared his excitement about exploring free agency, while also sending a message to his next team.
Alec Pierce makes his plans known to the Patriots if they want to sign him in free agency
It's certainly something the Patriots should hear, and if his desire to be a true WR1 is something that interests them, they have no reason not to go all-in to make Pierce the next New England pass catcher.
He's made it clear that he's ready to be the kind of player they need, as he wants to live up to the presumed big contract he will receive, but also wants to be more involved with the offense than he was with the Colts.
He can accomplish that in Foxboro.
On top of that, he also shared what he's looking for in his next team, and maybe inadvertently, he described the Patriots.
"Definitely quarterback play, and stability in a franchise. Winning culture. Things like that, I'd say, are probably the most important. Being in Indy, I played with a ton of different quarterbacks. I think they're on the way to figuring that out with Daniels [Jones]...
I think I've understood the battles that come with not having that stability. So I think as a free agent, that would be something that I would look into a lot."
Because he's considered the top receiver of this year's free agent class, there will inevitably be a lot of teams making offers to get him on their offense. But, at the same time, there are conflicting feelings about whether he is a real WR1 for every team in the league.
That will need to be something the Patriots ponder, since that is the biggest need in their current receiving room. But based on what we've seen from Pierce during his four-year career, there's plenty to like about his skillset and how that could easily translate to what Josh McDaniels wants to do with his offense.
Not to mention, Pierce is a well-versed player due to his chaotic tenure with the Colts. Since he was drafted, he's caught passes from or has been targeted by at least nine quarterbacks, and he thrived regardless of who was under center.
That goes a long way for a player set to experience free agency for the first time, as many others in that position have had the fortune of working with far fewer quarterbacks early in their career.
It just proves that Pierce can be a reliable weapon for the Patriots even more, and given his age and potential, he could be the right fit for what Vrabel wants for his roster, with an emphasis on growing a solid chemistry with Maye for years to come.