Bills may land $80.9M deep threat WR to unlock Josh Allen here’s what it means.

A new projection ties the Buffalo Bills to Colts receiver Alec Pierce as a potential game-changing deep threat, signaling a major offseason pivot as Buffalo navigates a post-SSean McDermott era with Josh Allen coming off foot surgery. Spotrac projects Pierce on a four-year, $80.9 million contract, a move that would mark a significant investment to unlock Allen’s upper-tier arm talent.

Pierce, 25, was Indianapolis’ second-round pick in 2022. He has emerged as one of the league’s most explosive deep threats, leading the NFL in yards per reception in 2024 (22.3) and again in 2025 (21.3). He has caught passes from multiple quarterbacks, including Rivers and Leonard, demonstrating versatility and big-play ability.

Buffalo has faced a lack of a consistent outside deep threat. Brandin Cooks provided a splash of vertical impact in five Bills games, averaging 22.8 yards per catch, but he is now a free agent. Khalil Shakir has been Buffalo’s top option at times who can stretch the field, but Pierce would offer a clear upgrade as a bona fide outside burner.

Cap space remains a hurdle. Even with an expanded upcoming cap, Buffalo is projected to be just over the limit, roughly $6 million over, according to OverTheCap.com. Signing Pierce would likely require restructuring or releasing other players to accommodate the multi-year, high-value contract.

If the Bills succeed in adding Pierce, the move would aim to complement Buffalo’s strong rushing attack and give Allen a true field-stretching target on the outside. The decision will hinge on Pierce’s market and Buffalo’s willingness to balance long-term payroll with a strategic upgrade to its passing game.