Colts make smart move with underrated WR
The Indianapolis Colts aren't letting star wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. go anywhere.
Per Bleacher Report's Jordan Schultz, the 26-year-old and the Colts have agreed a three-year deal worth up to $71.5M with $46M guaranteed. Indianapolis recently franchise tagged him to ensure he didn't enter free agency.
This is a smart move for the Colts. In 16 games last season, the former second-round pick had a career-high 109 receptions on 156 targets, the fifth-most in the NFL. He also logged 1,152 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns.
According to Larry Holder of The Athletic, he has the seventh-most receptions (296) in the league over the past three seasons, more than stars such as CeeDee Lamb (Dallas Cowboys), Tyreek Hill (Miami Dolphins), Davante Adams (Las Vegas Raiders) and Justin Jefferson (Minnesota Vikings).
"The one thing I do respect about Pitt is that he's going to show up, and you know what you're getting every Sunday," Colts head Shane Steichen told The Athletic. "You're going to get a guy that is going to go make plays, and you're going to get the same guy on the practice field that you're going to get in the meeting rooms, that you're going to get on game day on Sunday. To have that type of guy on our football team is huge going forward."
Pittman Jr.'s numbers could improve with better QB play. Since entering the league in 2020, he's played with seven different starters, including Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz and Matt Ryan.
Rookie QB Anthony Richardson — the fourth overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft — scored seven TDs (three passing and four rushing) in four games before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury. Per the team website, he started throwing again in February.
The 21-year-old might break out next season, especially with the Colts solidifying their future with Pittman Jr.
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