Colts general manager Chris Ballard opens up about WR Michael Pittman Jr.’s future with the team
We got one step closer to learning what the future holds for Michael Pittman Jr. and the Colts during the first day at the NFL Scouting Combine.
The Indianapolis Colts have multiple big decisions on the horizon this offseason, such as retaining Daniel Jones and Alec Pierce ahead of free agency. It may not seem like it, given that he’s under contract, but another looming decision is Michael Pittman Jr.’s future with the team.
Many have wondered if Pittman Jr. could be a cap casualty this offseason as the market for his counterpart at WR in Pierce keeps increasing each passing day. Pittman Jr. is set to have a $29 million cap hit on the Colts’ books if on the roster in 2026. Recent injuries have hindered his play and make it hard to justify paying him that much, especially if it comes at the expense of Pierce, who is a younger and ascending WR.
Colts general manager Chris Ballard spoke to the media at the NFL Scouting Combine, with me among those in attendance. He discussed multiple topics, including Pittman Jr. and his future with the team.
Would the Colts actually move on from Michael Pittman Jr. via release or trade this offseason?
Ballard made a point of expressing his feelings about the team’s star WR before diving into the details, saying, “Michael Pittman’s a really good football player.” With that out of the way, he went into more detail about the 28-year-old WR.
“We love Michael. He’s been here (Indianapolis) his whole career. He’s a really good player. He’s — he’s got a chance to be a really good player for a long time. The thing with Michael is he’s a pro. He’s a pro. He’s got a great work ethic. He’s got a great attitude. He’s one of those guys that, you know, you love having in your building. But, you know, look, Michael’s — Michael’s under contract. Uh, we love Michael. Uh, you know, we’re — we’re excited about what he can do for us moving forward, he’s a big part of what we’re doing here.” – Colts GM Chris Ballard
The thought of the team outright releasing Pittman Jr. after a statement like that from Ballard seems a bit far-fetched if you ask me. I do think Ballard left some things up in the air, though, in terms of his current deal being reworked to make it more team-friendly or even the possibility of trading the WR if an opportunity arises.
Earlier this offseason, Pittman Jr. himself appeared to think there was a chance his time in Indy was over. Speaking very fondly of his time with the Colts franchise, he acknowledged that anything can happen in the offseason. This would include him playing elsewhere in 2026.
Ballard was never going to give away the team’s entire plan for any situation surrounding the team this offseason in a public setting like the NFL Scouting Combine. I do find it helpful that one of the possible options when it comes to Pittman Jr., at this point, I expect to see Pittman Jr.’s 2026 cap hit reworked to a lower number or to see the WR traded to most likely a contender who needs to bolster their WR room ahead of next year.