AFC South Rival Named Best Fit For Colts WR Michael Pittman Jr.
With the franchise tag at their disposal, it seems unlikely that wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. will play somewhere other than with the Indianapolis Colts in 2024.
But the possibility still exists, and on February 21, CBS Sports' Garrett Podell proposed a nightmare scenario for the Colts.
Podell named the Houston Texans one of the best fits for Pittman in free agency.
"Michael Pittman Jr. picked a great time to have his first 100-catch season in 2023 just before becoming a free agent," Podell wrote. "His 109 catches were the fifth most in the NFL last season and tied for the fourth most in a single season in Colts history, ranking as the most by a player in Indy since Reggie Wayne's 111 back in the 2010 season.
"The big-bodied target (6-foot-4, 223 pounds) is certainly critical to the Colts' development of quarterback Anthony Richardson. However, if he isn't franchise-tagged and hits the open market, he'll have plenty of suitors.
"The division-rival Houston Texans could use a strong third receiver to go along with Nico Collins and Tank Dell, and they enter the offseason with over $50 million in cap space."
Spotrac projected Pittman to be worth $90.8 million on a 4-year contract on the open market this offseason. Such a deal would pay Pittman $22.7 million on an average annual basis.
Seeing Pittman join the 2023 AFC South champions is the worst-case scenario.
The Colts, though, have the advantage of being able to place the franchise tag on Pittman if they choose. If Indianapolis did that, Pittman would make $20.7 million on a 1-year tender.
The receiver and team would then have until the middle of July to work out a long-term deal beyond 2024.
The window for NFL teams to place the franchise tag on players officially began this week. There is no indication yet whether the Colts will do so with Pittman, but general manager Chris Ballard previously left open that possibility.
"I don’t want to use (the franchise tag), but it’s a tool," Ballard said in January. "If we have to use it, we will.”
Pittman posted a career-high 109 receptions and 1,152 receiving yards along with 4 touchdowns in 2023. He has 336 catches, 3,662 yards and 15 touchdowns in 62 career NFL games.
Podell also named the Tampa Bay Buccaneers a "best fit" for Pittman.
That was ironic. On February 20, CBS Sports' Cody Benjamin linked the Colts with Buccaneers free agent wide receiver Mike Evans.
