The Indianapolis Colts have re-signed their star wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. Pittman. Pittman has been a staple of the Colts’ offense during his four-year career and will continue it for another three. Pittman was set to enter free agency after his career year. He racked up 1152 receiving yards on a staggering 109 catches. This production would have been extremely difficult for the Colts to fill so this signing is huge for the team.
Indianapolis previously placed the franchise tag on their star, but with this contract remove it. The contract is a three-year $70 million deal with the possibility of reaching $71.5 million. With this contract comes $46 million guaranteed. This has a maximum average value under $24 million, making this a great contract for the team.
The Colts drafted Pittman 34th overall in the 2020 draft and will continue to focus on him as a franchise player. During the last draft, they selected quarterback Anthony Richardson fourth overall out of Florida, and expect him to be their franchise guy. While held out most of the year due to injury, Richardson established a strong connection with Pittman during his brief time on the field.
The importance of having a safety blanket for a young quarterback cannot be understated, as it allows the young ball thrower to rely on a solid veteran while he develops. Pittman will take on this role as he is a strong physical style receiver and will allow Richardson to throw his direction even if not completely open. Pittman thrives in this role and will only continue to excel with the Colts.
The Colts Can Now Get Down to Other Business
This move will allow Indianapolis to focus on other positions throughout the offseason. The team knew they needed to have a true number-one wideout before they could do anything else. Now they can focus on solidifying the offensive line, as well as their defense.
The Colts were one game away from a playoff appearance this season, and Pittman was a massive part of that. With a few more pieces, playoffs should be the expectation, not only this season but for years to come. The Colts will focus on building with their young core, headlined by Jonathan Taylor, Anthony Richardson, and newly resigned Michael Pittman Jr.
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