INDIANAPOLIS – Miscalculations with personnel decisions contributed to complacency at too many positions and the Indianapolis Colts missing the playoffs for a fourth consecutive season.
That wasn’t the case in Reggie Wayne’s receivers room.
After budgeting more than $150 million in guarantees to retain several of his own last offseason – including a three-year, $70 million deal for Michael Pittman Jr. – general manager Chris Ballard invested his second-round pick in the April draft in a fast playmaker out of Texas.
AD Mitchell brought 4.38 speed and tantalizing potential to Shane Steichen’s offense.
“He’s got big-play ability,” Steichen said after the draft. “The guy is a competitor.
“To get him where we got him, I couldn’t be more fired up about it.’’
At least one player had misgivings.
Alec Pierce ran a 4.41 at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine and had flashed big-play ability on the few occasions Colts’ quarterbacks with questionable arm strength gave him opportunities to showcase his skills.
Pierce approached Ballard after Mitchell’s arrival.
Hey, what about me?
Ballard’s response: Rise to the challenge.
Here’s a recap of how Pierce responded, and how Mitchell handled his rookie season. The legitimacy of Wayne’s room hinges on the continued development of each.
Alec Pierce
- NFL entry: 2022 2nd-round pick out of Cincinnati, 53rd overall and 12th receiver selected.
- 2024 stats: 37 receptions, 824 yards and seven TDs on 69 targets in 16 games.
- How it went: Up, up and away.
Ballard threw down the gauntlet in April.
“Anytime you draft a player at a position, there’s some uneasiness,’’ he said. “And Alec felt it. He came to my office (and) said, “Chris, what does this mean for me? I said, ‘Nothing. Complete’.
“And that’s exactly what he did. He didn’t complain. He didn’t make excuses. He competed and he is freaking good. He’s exactly who we thought he was going to be . . . I think there’s more in there.’’
That was Wayne’s belief as Pierce struggled in his first two seasons to find his “fit’’ in an offense that dealt with incredible instability at quarterback and lacked an ability or desire to push the ball down the field.
He always was bullish on him, but was curious how his third-year wideout would respond to Mitchell’s addition. Training camp last summer would be the first time Pierce would truly be pushed as a pro.
“The excitement I’m feeling for Alec right now, this camp is like no other because honestly, Alec ain’t never had to compete,’’ Wayne said. “Shoot, when we got here (in ’22), he was kind of given the third receiver chair. Then last year, he was given the second receiver chair.
“Now, he’s got somebody to push him. We ought to see the Alec we expect to see. A guy that comes in, continues to be a professional, come in and make plays. The guy’s really never hit his stride. I think this is his time.’’
Bullseye.
Whether it was being motivated by Mitchell’s presence or simply emerging in year 3, Pierce flourished as the Colts’ deep threat. He finished with a modest 37 receptions on 69 targets, but consistently turned heads with splash plays. He led the team with 824 yards and seven TDs.
Pierce averaged 22.3 yards per catch, best in the NFL and the league’s highest since DeSean Jackson in 2010 (22.5). It ranks second in club history, behind Roger Carr’s 25.9 in 1976.
Being a deep threat always has been Pierce’s reputation. He averaged 15.2 yards during his first two seasons, and it could have been so much higher. Wayne had a video cutup put together from 2022-23 that featured the times Pierce had gotten behind the secondary only to be ignored by QBs. It easily was double figures.
In 2024, only Cincinnati’s Ja’Marr Chase had more receptions of at least 40 yards than Pierce. Chase’s eight came on 127 catches. Pierce’s seven came on 37, and he had two other 39-yard catches.
Pierce’s seven TDs included 60-, 65- and 40-yard lightning bolts.
“It kind of brought me back to college,’’ he said. “It’s definitely always been my game.’’
Pierce averaged 17.5 yards per catch with 13 TDs at Cincinnati.
He had never been the type to set personal goals, primarily because so much is out of a receiver’s control. That changed heading into last season when a friend texted Pierce.
“He said, ‘Seven touchdowns, 850 yards,’’’ Pierce said with a smile. “He was just a friend from home. He’s a fan of football but he never really played football.
“He guessed that pretty well. That might have to be a part of my future planning.’’
Pierce’s impact exceeded his 824 yards. On four deep shots, he drew interference penalties for 140 yards.
And no one should dismiss Pierce adding 800-plus yards to the Colts’ diverse pass game. Pittman finished with 808 and Josh Downs with 803.
It marked just the second time in franchise history three receivers had at least 800 yards. The only other occasion: 2004 with Wayne (1,210), Marvin Harrison (1,113) and Brandon Stokley (1,077).
AD Mitchell
- NFL entry: 2024 2nd-round pick, 52nd overall and 11th receiver selected.
- 2024 stats: 23 receptions, 312 yards and no TDs on 55 targets in 17 games.
- How it went: A few ups and a ton of downs.
It wasn’t the debut anyone anticipated, including Mitchell. His description of his rookie season was brief and blunt.
“Adversity,” Mitchell said. “Not living up to my own personal expectations. Don’t really care about other people’s expectations.”
He insisted he needed to be “more of a professional. Just being the best me I can be. I had to learn how to be a professional. In college, I was a vet. Up here, I’m a rookie. So, I lot of different things I had to learn.
“Never been a professional. I had to learn how to be a professional. This is my first year. So, the second year will be a whole lot better for me.”
There were too many missed opportunities. Too many dropped passes. Too many instances where Mitchell either short-armed a catch attempt or seemed to give up on a route.
The ill-advised double pass during the week 15 loss at Denver that resulted in Nik Bonitto’s 56-yard return touchdown was the least of Mitchell’s rookie problems.
“That wasn’t his fault, man,” Wayne argued. “Y’all need to chill out.’’
The overriding issue was Mitchell’s unreliability. He secured just 41.8% of his 55 targets (23 receptions for 312 yards). That’s the worst catch-rate in franchise history for a receiver with at least 50 targets. He “surpassed” Sean Dawkins (42.6% in 1993) and Jessie Hester (42.6% in 1992).
Moreover, Mitchell’s 41.8% ranked last in the NFL last season among 89 receivers with at least 50 targets. Next in line: Dallas’ Brandin Cooks at 48.1%.
Mitchell remained optimistic after his shaky inaugural season.
“I’m definitely going to get a quick reset,’’ he said. “I’m going to be a couch potato for I don’t know (how long). Once I get back up and on my feet again, I’m just working, man.
“This position is all about confidence and ain’t nobody taking that away from me, no time. It’ll be a lot different from this year, for sure. At the end of the day, it’s all going to be on me. It always has been. It always will be. Just looking forward to coming back.’’
Remember, Wayne has been in this situation before.
He staunchly supported Pierce during his early growing pains and has taken a similar stance with Mitchell.
“He can play,’’ Wayne said. “He’s a ballplayer.
“Definitely a fan. He can be a difference-maker.”
Ballard agreed.
“Just young,’’ he said. “Like any young player, there’s going to be a maturation process with him. And he has some definitely, really strong moments. But we need more consistent moments from him.’’
You can follow Mike Chappell on Twitter at @mchappell51.