The Dallas Cowboys made a bit of a splash on Monday morning, sending a fourth-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft to the Green Bay Packers to acquire veteran edge rusher Rashan Gary, who's racked up a solid 46.5 sacks during his seven-year career.
America's Team attempted to trade for Maxx Crosby, but with the Las Vegas Raiders wanting two first-round picks in return, Jerry Jones bowed out, prompting Las Vegas to ship the five-time Pro Bowler to the Baltimore Ravens, which obviously led Dallas to pivot to Gary.
Former Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn apparently attempted to make a splash of his own on Monday, as ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported that the Washington Commanders "made an aggressive push" for coveted deep-threat wide receiver Alec Pierce, only to watch the 25-year-old re-sign with the Indianapolis Colts.
Others have reported that Quinn's Commanders offered Pierce at least $30 million per season, but he ultimately accepted a little less than that to remain in Indianapolis, inking a four-year, $116 million deal.
The Dallas Cowboys avoided having to see Alec Pierce twice a year
Cowboys fans obviously never have a problem seeing the Commanders fail at—well, anything—but they should also feel good about not having to see Pierce twice per season.
While the four-year veteran doesn't catch a ton of passes, he certainly makes the ones he does bring down count, as he's led the league in yards per catch in each of the past two seasons, averaging 22.3 yards per reception in 2024 and 21.3 yards per reception this past year, tallying 13 touchdowns in that two-year stretch.
It's certainly understandable why the Commanders would target Pierce, as they ranked just 24th in the NFL this past year in passing, averaging only 184.1 yards per game. It bears noting, however, that quarterback Jayden Daniels appeared in only seven games due to knee, hamstring, and elbow injuries, while franchise receiver Terry McLaurin appeared in just 10 due to a nagging quad injury.
One could easily surmise that Pierce was seen as a long-term replacement for McLaurin, as it's widely assumed that the Commanders will part ways with McLaurin following the 2026 season. The two-time Pro Bowler basically forced Washington to sign him to a three-year, $97 million extension this last August, and while his salary cap hit for the upcoming season isn't that bad at just a little over $18 million, it jumps to $34 million in 2027 and $39.5 million in 2028.
So, expect the Commanders to move on from that at this time next year. In the meantime, Quinn & Co. will have to look elsewhere to find another option at wide receiver.