Alec Pierce made clear Wednesday he intends to test the open market, citing quarterback stability and winning culture as his primary criteria while speaking favorably of several potential destinations. The Indianapolis Colts receiver led the NFL in yards per reception for a second consecutive season and crossed 1,000 receiving yards for the first time in the final year of his rookie contract.

"At this point, I've kind of earned the right to explore free agency, see what's out there," Pierce said on the "Up & Adams" show. "And just make a decision that's best for my career and my family."

When host Kay Adams raised the Buffalo Bills and quarterback Josh Allen as a potential fit, Pierce was enthusiastic.

"That would be special," Pierce said. "He's one of the most talented quarterbacks in the NFL. Big fan of his game, so yeah, that would be cool, too."

Pierce also pointed to the Tennessee Titans as an intriguing option given their $93.8 million in available cap space and investment in 2025 No. 1 pick Cam Ward.

"That's a good spot. It's close," he said. "Young quarterback."

His stated priorities present a challenge for Indianapolis. The Colts have started nine quarterbacks during Pierce's four seasons and have not reached the postseason since 2020. Pierce acknowledged his belief in Daniel Jones while noting the uncertainty created by the transition tag.

"I think they're on the way to figuring that out with Daniel if they can get a long-term deal done with him," Pierce said. "But I think I've understood the battles that come with not having that stability."

Pierce is expected to command more than $27 million annually on his next deal, which would place him among just 14 receivers to reach that threshold, per Over the Cap. He made no effort to underplay his market value.

"There's not very many receivers that have got 1,000 yards on under 100 targets and I had 84," Pierce said. "You basically double my targets and I'm setting the record right there."

The Colts face immediate financial obstacles in retaining him. Indianapolis is $4.7 million over the $301.2 million salary cap following the Jones transition tag. Extending Jones on a multiyear deal would spread his cap charge across seasons, while releasing veteran receiver Michael Pittman Jr. would free $24 million in additional space.

Pierce, averaging 21.8 yards per catch over the past two seasons, has drawn comparisons to DeSean Jackson, who averaged 22.5 yards per catch during his 1,000-yard season with Philadelphia in 2010. Jackson earned $104.5 million across 15 NFL seasons.

"It's been crazy to see," Pierce said of the free-agency attention. "I told my friends to text me if you see any Adam Schefter tweets."