Kyle Pitts instead of Michael Pittman?
 

Kyle Pitts is hitting the free agent market, and had a really good year last year, almost meeting his rookie stats, with over 900 yards on 88 receptions, which was significantly more than what Pittman managed to produce this year. I know one is a receiver, and the other a TE, but i am not so sure that their roles are really that significantly different. Pitts mainly plays off the line of scrimmage, and Pittman has been a big bodied WR, who mainly plays the middle of the field.

The top 5 TE's are earning between $15-19m a year, which is a lot less than what Pittman is projected to earn going forward.

If we had a receiving corps of Pierce, Downs, Pitts and Warren with Dulin, Gould, maybe Coleman Owen a mid round receiver, or mid level free agent pickup, i would be quite content that this would be something that Steichen could make work really well, for a lot less cap costs.

I like the concept...if Pitts is a willing and capable blocker.

I like Pittman, always have. He is the type of receiver that keeps the chains moving. But, $29,000,000 cap hit? Unless he can be renegotiated to a way more cap friendly contract, he'll have to be released. I'm not sure ANY wide receiver is worth that kind of cap hit.

Coming from someone from Atlanta, if Pitts is the same Pitts he's been every other year, he is not going to be loved here.

Maybe him and Warren remind everyone of Gronkowski & Hernandez, but I doubt it.

So is Pittman, it may be what he does best. He knows 29 million is too much for him, I bet he renegotiates a long term extension that is favorable to the cap this year. Pittman isn't the problem. Keep him if possible.

I like this idea. Trade Pittman for what you can and sign Pitts for less overall. Steichen likes 12 personnel anyway, why not give him two of the best TEs in the league, both of whom are matchup problems? If you get a day 2 pick and $10 million or so more in cap room, that's a win from a cap management perspective.

I am not really bothered about Pitts being able to block, as may normally be required from a traditional TE, i am utilising him in a similar way to Pittman.

I am also not overly bothered about getting draft compensation for Pittman, i wouldn't expect anything more than a 5th or 6th at the tops anyway. Really trying to find a cheaper way of getting top quality production. Paying top dollar on pass catching TE's is a cheaper way than paying an average WR to give similar output.

I agree. If he agrees to a renegotiation, then keep him. If he doesn't, you're not going to find a single team willing to trade for that cap hit. So, it's either renegotiate or he gets released, which makes him a free agent. Other teams can then sign him without paying that enormous cap hit.

It's very intriguing on paper. As much as I've always loved Pittman, Warren + Pitts would kind of be a unicorn in the NFL. I have trouble thinking of many imposing duos over the years off the top of my head.

You'd be changing out a big body, lunch pail WR for a bigger, faster, younger match-up problem. I'd love to see Steichen utilize those two.

If he were to command #1 TE money, that would still be a net cap gain.

I wonder, regarding his up and downs... is he an attitude/work ethic problem? I know QB hasn't been too stable and he had the MCL.

It would have been nice to see Jelani Woods healthy and in this system with Warren

He only played in 4 games w/ NYJ with 1 start, where he only had 1 catch for 4 yards. Not sure if his lack of playing time was due to injury or performance, but either way we should be able to bring him back at or close to the vet minimum if we want.

As for replacing MPJ w/ Pitts - it's a really intriguing out of the box thought. Guessing since Ballard likes to keep his own that we end up extending MPJ to lower his cap hit.

You know how it is, everyone always speculates and everybody has an opinion. I don't get to hear Indy media all that much so I can't say for sure how it compares. Their takes are never really that much deeper than what you'd read here.

I can tell you this. They talk about him the same way they talked about Vic Beasley. Beasley was always underproductive and didn't come close to matching his draft value until his contract year.

I get the feeling they’re gonna cut him in order to sign Jones and Pierce

This is why I say no on Pitts. Up until this season, he was a borderline bust. Then he has career highs across the board in a contract year.

I’d be wary of giving this dude a massive contract. Could be an Albert Haynesworth type situation.

Besides, we have Warren. Signing another number one tight end would be a waste. Spend that money on Pierce.

We all agree that we have to create cap space to sign Pierce and most probably DJ.

What the OP is suggesting is that, one way to do that is to trade Pittman for what ever we can get, therefore, eliminating his $29 mil cap hit, and acquiring the same production from an elite TE, at roughly half of Pittman's salary.


Pittman has averaged 87 catches for 940 yds, and 10.8 yds. per, and a paltry 4 tds. Per season. Those numbers have been found down over the last few seasons. He will be 29 when the season starts.

It would not be difficult to find a TE who's younger, faster, cheaper, and just as productive.

I think you meant Pittman, not Pierce

Thanks, fixed it!

Why on earth would anyone trade for Pittman? Maybe if we are going to throw in some draft picks or pay 14 million of his contract. We will redo his contract or cut him. If he wants to stay here it will be worked out, if not he is gone. It is up to him.

o


Drake Wally of Sports Illustrated chimes in a what he thinks about ESPN's Bill Barnwell's Michael Pittman trade proposal.



Insane Michael Pittman Jr. Trade Take Has the Colts Getting Fleeced

(By Drake Wally)

https://www.si.com/nfl/colts/onsi/ne...e-take-fleeced



Michael Pittman Jr. has been a staple of the Indianapolis Colts offense for years, and has provided the squad with consistency, incredible leadership, and an ability to make plays when they matter most.

However, after a strong start to his 6th year with quarterback Daniel Jones, everything came crashing down when Jones went down for the year after an Achilles injury.

Now, Pittman's future with the Colts is in question, especially considering the fact that teammate Alec Pierce showed plenty of promise to be the team's next WR1. This brings rumors of a release or trade, which would save the Colts $24 Million per Over-the-Cap.

As far as a trade goes, plenty of scenarios make sense. However, in Bill Barnwell's ESPN piece highlighting trade proposals that fit, he has a baffling take ...... trading Pittman for struggling Carolina Panthers pass-catcher, Xavier Legette.

Barnwell has the Colts dealing away Pittman and a 2026 7th-rounder for Legette and a 2026 5th-rounder.

"If Indianapolis needs to spend money elsewhere, Legette would make sense slotting in as a third or fourth wide receiver behind Pierce, Josh Downs and potentially Ashton Dulin.

Ballard has loved drafting high-end athletes at receiver during his time in Indianapolis, and Legette certainly qualifies.

Having just turned 25, Legette still might have some room for growth. And if he fails to get there, it at least wouldn't cost the Colts much."

It's simple ...... this trade doesn't fit in the slightest.

Pittman is worth far more than a struggling former 1st-rounder like Legette and a 5th-round selection, especially considering that the Colts are still forfeiting a draft pick in a year where they already lack a 1st-rounder.

Legette hasn't lived up to his 1st-round tag in the slightest. Through 2 seasons and 25 starts so far, Legette has only 84 catches for 860 receiving yards to go along with 7 touchdowns.

Legette is also an underwhelming run-blocker, something that Pittman flourishes in.

While the Panthers need a receiver like Pittman in their ranks, Indianapolis would be purely foolish to execute this deal that Barnwell believes is a fit.

Even considering Pittman's struggles in the latter half of 2025, he still put up a respectable stat line. This is made even more true when laying out that he played with 3 more signal callers in Jones, Philip Rivers, and Riley Leonard.

In 17 games in 2025, Pittman snagged 80 balls for 784 receiving yards and a career-high 7 touchdown receptions. Most of this damage was done with Jones, but Rivers was 44 with nearly no arm left, and Leonard was a rookie 6th-rounder who really played just one game.

There's obviously criticism deserved for Pittman, as Pierce still showed out even with Rivers and Leonard tossing the pigskin.

But Pittman has never had QB consistency, playing with a horrific 10 field generals over 6 seasons. Yet, more often than not, he's performed well.

Arguably, the biggest draw to Pittman not being a Colts wideout in 2026 is the massive $24 Million that the team would save by cutting ties.

The Colts need to free up cap space in order to re-sign Jones and Pierce for sure, and Pittman would be the biggest impact toward making that happen ...... however, the Colts can also extend Pittman and space out his contract. While they'll still have to pay him, it will give them more freedom this year, and perhaps in future seasons.

It makes the most sense to give Pittman an extension to keep the offense as intact as it was in 2025. Shane Steichen's game-plan was destroying defenses before injuries made the wheels fall off, and Pittman was a big piece of that.

The Colts shouldn't trade away Pittman unless they're getting what he's worth. This prediction from Barnwell is simply a fleece ...... it would benefit Carolina far more than it would the Colts, and it's not even close.

Pittman's situation is one to monitor closely. However, one can disregard this deal, as it's not happening.

However, in an alternate reality, if Ballard gives away Pittman for Legette and a Day 3 pick, it would be a disgusting case of roster malpractice, and it would take away the most consistent receiver the Colts have had since 2021.

o

IMO, unless Pittman agrees to a renegotiation of his current contract, any trade the Colts make is better than nothing. I see 3 scenarios

1. He renegotiates and they keep him. That's what I hope
2. He does not renegotiate and they trade him for next to nothing
3. He does not renegotiate and they release him

There is no way the Colts absorb a 29 million dollar cap hit on him and no other team will give up much if they need to absorb the lions share of that hit. Teams and Pittman know that if he does not renegotiate, the Colts will release him and he can sign with any team he wants to at a cap friendly amount.

It depends on whether they plan on signing Pierce. If not and he leaves, Pittman will be back.

If they lose Pierce and keep Pittman without renegotiating that contract, I will find it difficult to be a fan.

Yeah, if that happens, Carlie will have no choice, other than to fire Ballard that day.

I’m not saying that will happen, I’m just saying it’s not out of the realm of possibility. I know they think quite a bit of Pittman.

If they decide Pierce is too expensive, then Pittman will most likely be back on his current deal, because in that scenario he’d have no reason to take less and the Colts would need him to much to force the issue.

Is there anything that precludes the Colts from renegotiating Pittmans contract now? That's what I would do, and if he stands fast, he isn't that hot on the idea of remaining with the Colts.

agree


contract year production when he has been garbage for years. no thanks. unless he was surprisingly cheap. which I doubt

He had Desmond Ridder as his QB and Arthur Smith (famous for using his most talented offensive weapons as decoys) as his head coach for a good chunk of his time in Atlanta. It doesn't seem coincidental to me that by far his two best statistical seasons (rookie year and last year) were the two seasons where he had the best QB play and a playcaller who would use him as more than a decoy.

Trade him to the Raiders, they have crap for receivers and they are drafting Mendoza. He wont have anyone to target.

Fleece them for a 3rd rounder, their kicker, a linebacker and the safety who broke Schrader ( make that guy just take snaps all preseason and cut his ass)

https://x.com/RapSheet/status/2025993256148898152?s=20

Ian Rapoport
@RapSheet
·
42m
The #Falcons are planning to franchise tag standout TE Kyle Pitts, sources say, keeping their playmaker in the fold on a 1-year, fully guaranteed deal worth more than $15M.

Damnit.