The Indianapolis Colts are having a busy first day of unofficial free agency. The team agreed to terms to bring back Alec Pierce, which will be costly, and then Indy traded Michael Pittman, Jr. To be fair, Pittman's future with the team was in doubt the entire offseason.
He was costly, of course. The team could have released him and saved $24 million. A trade did the same. So when general manager Chris Ballard chose to send Pittman to the Pittsburgh Steelers after the reported re-signing of Pierce, no one was likely shocked. The move is ultimately a win-win.
Indy created cash, and Pittman didn't have to risk getting involved in free agency. Plus, after being dealt to the Steelers, NFL insider Mike Garafolo reported that the wide receiver agreed to a new deal with his new team for three years and $59 million.
Indianapolis Colts trade Michael Pittman after agreeing to terms with Alec Pierce
Is that less than what he would have been paid in an annual salary than what he would have been paid by Indy this season? Sure, but it's longer-term security and with a team capable of making a deep run in the postseason.
Pittman will now play opposite mercurial wideout DK Metcalf, and the two should play well off of each other. Pittman is used to being with an explosive receiver after partnering with Alec Pierce, one of the top free agents in the 2026 market, for the last few years.
Pittman should still get plenty of targets, and could be used on more deep passes than he was in Indy. Head coach Shane Steichen knows how to run an efficient offense, but he does seemingly like to fit his receivers into a certain mode. He gets the best out of what they can do for the offense, but maybe not everything the player can do.
Michael Pittman with the new Steelers head coach, Mike McCarthy, though? That should be a good thing for both. The Indianapolis Colts are winners, too, however. They brought back Alec Pierce, and trading Michael Pittman allows the team to afford him.