The Indianapolis Colts have taken a significant step by placing the non-exclusive franchise tag on starting receiver Michael Pittman Jr., as confirmed on Tuesday.
This move was made just before the league’s deadline and in line with general manager Chris Ballard’s recent assurance that Pittman would remain with the team for the upcoming season. Discussions regarding a contract extension between the two parties have been ongoing since the conclusion of last season.
Ballard’s commitment to retaining Pittman reflects the sentiment within the Colts organization, with coach Shane Steichen emphasizing the value of having a dependable player like Pittman on the team.
Steichen highlighted Pittman’s consistent performance on game day and emphasized its positive impact on the growth of young quarterback Anthony Richardson.
With the franchise tag in place, Pittman has the opportunity to explore offers from other teams in the free-agent market. However, if he reaches an agreement elsewhere, the Colts have the option to match the offer.
Should they decline to match it, they will receive two first-round draft picks from Pittman’s new team.
Having been drafted by the Colts in the second round of the 2020 draft, Pittman has emerged as a key player, starting in 56 of 62 games. His impressive stats include 336 receptions for 3,662 yards and 15 touchdowns throughout his career.
Notably, he became only the fourth player in Colts history to achieve 100 catches in a single season, recording 109 catches for 1,152 yards and four touchdowns in 2023. Pittman’s physical playing style and reliability as a receiver have remained consistent, even with different starting quarterbacks each season.
