Michael Pittman Jr. is slated to hit free agency in a couple of weeks, but the Indianapolis Colts don’t seem like they will let him get very far.
Colts general manager Chris Ballard spoke to reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine on Wednesday, and during his media session, he said that he expects Pittman to be back with the team in 2024.
How will Indianapolis go about doing that? Well, Ballard says that the club is hoping to lock up the star wide receiver on a multi-year deal but acknowledged that the franchise tag is also an option.
“We’ll work hard to get a deal done,” Ballard said, via Kevin Patra of NFL media. “It’s a tool we have. I’m not going to say we’re not going to use it, but I’m not going to say we are. Hopefully, we can come to an agreement and find some compromise on a deal.”
Should the Colts place a franchise tag on Pittman, they would then have until the middle of July to strike a long-term contract with him.
Pittman is coming off of a career-best 2023 campaign in which he played in 16 games and hauled in 109 receptions for 1,152 yards and four touchdowns.
The 26-year-old, who played his collegiate football at USC, was selected by Indianapolis in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Pittman had a relatively uneventful rookie year, appearing in 13 contests and logging 40 catches for 503 yards and a score. The following season, he broke out, participating in every game and catching 88 passes for 1,082 yards while reaching the end zone six times.
The Woodland Hills, Ca. native then took a bit of a step back in 2022, snaring 99 balls for 925 yards and four touchdowns.
However, based on his production in 2023, it seems safe to say that Pittman is due for a handsome raise, and the Colts seem prepared to give that to him whether it’s via contract extension or a one-year deal on a tag.
Indianapolis went 9-8 and missed the playoffs this past season.
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