Feb. 16, 2026, 11:28 a.m. ET
Each NFL beat writer for The Athletic selected a potential cut candidate this offseason from their respective teams. When it comes to the Indianapolis Colts, the choice is an obvious one.
Wide receiver Michael Pittman.
This is who James Boyd selected as the Colts‘ possible cut candidate. The reason this is fairly obvious is that Pittman is set to earn $24 million next season and has a cap hit of $29 million.
“There is no way Indianapolis will pay him that salary, especially after Alec Pierce supplanted him as the team’s No. 1 receiver,” Boyd wrote. “Pittman could either restructure his contract to reduce his salary and remain with the Colts, or they could release him.”
For some context around Pittman’s contract, he will have the seventh-largest salary cap hit of any receiver in football. His base salary is tied for the seventh-largest as well.
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While Pittman continues to provide a steady, reliable presence in the Colts‘ passing game, his production compared to his base salary and cap hit doesn’t align.
Pittman’s 773 receiving yards this past season ranked 29th in the NFL, according to PFF.
If the Colts were to move on from Pittman, the team would create $24 million in salary cap savings. That’s cap space that could go towards re-signing Alec Pierce and others.
Pittman is aware of what could transpire this offseason.
“I’ve been here for six years, it’s been a good six,” Pittman said after the 2025 season via ESPN. “I’m hoping it’s not, but if this is my last, then I’ve really had a great time playing here.”
Pittman continued, “Every player is self aware. I know I didn’t cut it. And I look back at the first half, I’m like, man, it was going so good. And then something pivoted, it changed and then it went downhill. So obviously when you have a year like this, I mean, you know that change can come.”