Report: Contenders in AFC/NFC Targeting Alec Pierce in Second Round

CINCINNATI — Alec Pierce has taken the crown from Myjai Sanders as the Bearcats third-best NFL Draft propsect and teams are taking notice. According to Tony Pauline, Kansas City and Arizona are strong candidates to draft him in the second round.

"Alec Pierce of Cincinnati is one receiver swiftly moving up draft boards that Kansas City and Arizona could consider in Round 2," Pauline wrote. "Though rated lower on the outside, Pierce has been consistently receiving second-round grades from teams and may not make it into the third frame. He was prominent during the Bearcats’ march to the College Football Playoff and turned in a terrific senior season.

"He tested incredibly well at the combine, timing 4.41 seconds in the 40 with an insanely fast 10-yard split of 1.46 seconds. Only two receivers, Skyy Moore (1.44) and Tyquan Thornton (1.41), had faster 10-yard splits at the combine. His vertical jump of 40.5 inches was tops for the receiver group in Indianapolis. So who are the candidates for Pierce in Round 2? The Bears pick 48th and have shown a lot of interest in the wideout, as have the Green Bay Packers at pick 53. Don’t discount the Indianapolis Colts with the 42nd selection."

Kansas City owns the 50th and 62nd picks in this year's draft and have a clear need for a field-stretching receiver like Pierce after Tyreek Hill was traded to Miami. Pierce's third-ranked 10-yard split is very notable because of how well those marks translate to the NFL.

The first ten yards are the most important areas for a receiver to win and create initial separation. Pierce has limited experience playing the position, but sports a stellar work ethic and plenty of traits that you just can't teach. It's becoming more and more of a guarantee that at least three Bearcats get selected in the first two rounds this weekend.

Pierce is the consensus 79th-ranked player in the 2022 NFL Draft and the 14th-ranked wide receiver. His most common draft home is with Atlanta at No. 58 (14% of mocks in the past week).