Colts' next move with Braden Smith just became painfully obvious

Indianapolis Colts celebrate a touchdown | Michael Hickey/GettyImagesThe Indianapolis Colts are in win-now mode. How else to explain the team dealing for cornerback Sauce Gardner at the trade deadline and giving up two first-round draft picks while doing so? If the team now doesn't meet lofty expectations, the future is iffy.

But as all Indy fans and general manager Chris Ballard know, keeping the band together is important, too. That means spending a large part of the Colts' $57 million in projected cap space in 2026 on re-signing quarterback Daniel Jones. If that happens, as expected, what should the team do with a couple of other key pieces?

One is wide receiver Alec Pierce. He might hit…