It's on to the 2026 offseason for the New England Patriots and Mike Vrabel and his backroom support staff. The 2025 season ended with a thud in the Super Bowl. Some thought playoffs, but no one expected they'd get there. Meanwhile, decisions regarding current and future players must be made.
One is on wide receiver Stefon Diggs. If he is let go, the Patriots will need a replacement or two. Colts' free agent Alec Pierce would be great, but Pro Football Network thinks he's a better fit for the Bills.
Cutting Diggs will save $18.5M on the cap, but he was the team's best wide receiver by far in 2025. However, if Vrabel is looking to the future, cutting Diggs and also guard Mike Onwenu (saving $17.5M on the cap) will save a massive $36M. That can buy a lot of young talent.
Pierce had an interesting 2025 season for the Colts. While the 25-year-old only caught 47 passes, he made them good for the magic 1003 yards and six touchdowns. He'd also be a big target for a once-again healthy Drake Maye at 6'3" and 211 pounds.
Alec Pierce is worth a big investment by Mike Vrabel
If Mike Vrabel decides to move on from Diggs, Pierce would be a nice addition. He's big, young, and very fast. Pierce ran a blistering 4.41 forty-yard dash at the combine, a terrific number for a receiver his size. He should be a prime target for Vrabel, no matter what he does with Diggs, but the Bills may be on the lookout, too.
Jack Aaron of Pro Football Network has pegged the Bills as the best fit for the coveted Colts' free agent wide receiver, Alec Pierce.
"Buffalo’s offense was at its best when Josh Allen would launch deep balls to Gabe Davis. Since then, they haven’t had a legit outside threat besides Brandin Cooks, whose best days are far behind him. Pierce returns Allen’s ability to stretch the field."
Pro Football Network can think what they want, but money talks, and having young, big, fast receivers on hand for Drake Maye is imperative. Vrabel should go all-out to sign Pierce even if he has to part ways with players like Diggs and guard Mike Onwenu to make it affordable. Getting a receiver like Pierce, even if it means overpaying, is worth it.
MIke Vrabel can do his quarterback, Drake Maye a favor by signing Alec Pierce
The Patriots' top two priorities this offseason have to be further upgrading the offensive line with young talent and bringing in edge players who generate sacks. There can be no compromises on those top two objectives. The sieve-like O-line that gave up sacks by the bushel-full and the inability to produce sacks cost the Patriots the Super Bowl.
Regardless, Vrabel still has to augment the wide receiver room, especially if he sets Diggs loose. His cash can go toward paying a younger and potentially explosive receiver like Pierce, and the Patriots shouldn't be outbid on him if he's amenable to coming on board.
Decisions to broom good players to free up cap space aren't easy, and doing so with players like Diggs and Onwenu won't be either. But Vrabel has to think long-term here. Diggs will be 33 this season, and Onwenu playing guard isn't worth anywhere near the $25M they'd have to pay him under his current contract.
Signing Alec Pierce makes all the sense in the world, even if they have to release two good players to sign him.