Puzzle pieces point to Titans, Alec Pierce and a free agent contract worth nearly $30 million

Puzzle pieces point to Titans, Alec Pierce and a free agent contract worth nearly $30 million originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Welcome to the free agency of Alec Pierce.

The Indianapolis Colts' big-play threat may not have began last season looking at a huge free agent contract. But after a massive campaign, he is now.

ESPN broke down all the key parts of the NFL's upcoming free agent season in one massive article on Wednesday, and it actually includes a lot of intriguing Pierce puzzle pieces that, when assembled, point to one outcome.

First, there's the contract value, which may approach $30 million per year.

"Pierce has been the league's most explosive receiver over the past two seasons with 21.8 yards per reception, well above second place (Lions' Jameson Williams at 17.2)," writes ESPN's Ben Solak. He also has the size (6-foot-3, 211 pounds) and strength to be used more as a traditional WR1 at all three levels of the field. Cap-rich teams are desperate to give Pierce a deal in the high-$20 million range of average annual value."

OK, so the high-$20 million ballpark is on the board.

Now, who has that kind of cap space? The Tennessee Titans.

"They have nearly $100 million in cap space and several positional needs on which to use it," ESPN's Jeremy Fowler writes. "Tennessee will monitor top markets if a big swing makes sense, but it will work the second- and mid-tier markets to fill needs. Edge rusher, guard and corner are among their holes."

And then yeah, the Titans have the need -- QB Cam Ward is entering his second season and needs more offensive talent around him.

ESPN's Matt Bowen goes on to predict that Pierce will indeed sign with the Titans.

"With the Titans in position to be active in free agency, I like Pierce in Tennessee under new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll," Bowen writes. "Pierce has the vertical stretch ability to produce down the field and can play a volume role as a multilevel target for quarterback Cam Ward."

The way each of the ESPN writers frames the situation, it certainly seems like Pierce would be a great fit in Tennessee.

Given that the Titans play in the same division as the Colts, it'd be even that much more painful for them to lose Pierce this way. That shouldn't stop Tennessee for one second, though. 

If they can get Pierce, it certainly seems like the pieces fit.