Cincinnati Bearcats wide receiver Alec Pierce (12) collects a pass during warm ups ahead in the of the College Football Playoff semifinal game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at the 86th Cotton Bowl Classic, Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Syndication The Enquirer — © Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK

Benjamin Solak: Alec Pierce Has Talent 'to be Impactful in Year One'

Pierce is the writer's rookie receiver to watch outside of the first round.

Author:
Russ Heltman
Jul 25, 2022 3:25 PM EDT

In this story:

CINCINNATI — Former Bearcats star receiver Alec Pierce is participating in his first NFL training camp this week, and one writer thinks he's the receiver to watch in 2022 outside of the first round.

The Ringer's Benjamin Solak doesn't see Michael Pittman Jr. dominating the Colts offense, and he's expecting a strong showing from Pierce.

"If they try to work him (Matt Ryan) that way with Pittman (as a star receiver)," Solak said on The Ringer NFL Show. "I don't think they are going to find as much success on offense as if they just let Ryan be point guard, and let this Frank Reich offense operates the way it always has, which is distributing a lot of targets over a lot of different receivers.

"In which case, I think Pierce has the talent to be impactful in Year One. He is a high-caliber athlete, a ton of starting experience at Cincinnati, so the onboarding should be a little bit quicker as opposed to some of these guys from gadgety offenses, and guys who were one-year starters and guys who don't have NFL size."

Pierce should have every opportunity to be the X receiver for Indianapolis on the outside after Paris Campbell's struggles to start his career. The UC product reminds Solak of another tall, contested catch second-round pick.

"In this offense," Solak explained. "I think about what Alshon Jeffery was to the Eagles when Reich was there, right? Prime Alshon? Relax, maybe Pierce will get there. But when Alshon was starting to get a little older, when he was with the Eagles, he was a little bit more like, 'alright, I'm gonna run a 3rd & 5 slant, or I'm gonna run a nine-route, or I'm gonna run a deep comeback.' That was kind of all he lived with, but it was enough."

Pierce's role in 2022 should come into focus over the next month as he navigates life in the NFL. Check out the full conversation below in the show's final 10 minutes.

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