Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. just enjoyed the best season of his NFL career to date, and it comes at a perfect time with the fourth-year star about to hit free agency this spring.
So, will Pittman remain with the Colts, or will he be playing his football elsewhere in 2024?
Pittman was asked about his future on Monday, and he was rather apathetic in his response.
“I made it this far, so I’ve loved my four years here,” Pittman said, via Stephen Holder of ESPN. “But I wouldn’t be doing my due diligence if I didn’t explore every option and find the best fit,” Pittman said.
The 26-year-old hauled in 109 receptions for 1,152 yards and four touchdowns this year, achieving career highs in the two former categories.
Pittman, who played his collegiate football at the University of Southern California, was selected by Indianapolis in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
He had a rather uneventful rookie campaign, catching 40 passes for 503 yards and a touchdown. The following year, however, Pittman broke out, snaring 88 balls for 1,082 yards and six scores. He then took a bit of a step back in 2022, finishing with 99 catches for 925 yards while reaching the end zone four times.
In spite of his slight inconsistency, there is no question that Pittman will be one of the top available wide outs on the open market this offseason.
Pittman added that he wouldn’t be “displeased” with a $23 million franchise tag, but he qualified his statement by saying he would prefer not to play on a tag.
The Colts are slated to have a ton of cap room at their disposal, so we will see if they decide to open up their wallets to try and retain Michael Pittman Jr.
Indianapolis went 9-8 this year, just missing out on a playoff spot. It ended up losing to the Houston Texans in a battle for a Wild Card berth in its season finale.
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