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Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen
The Indianapolis Colts had a promising first half of the 2025 season, but now need to focus on keeping the key parts of the team.
Daniel Jones should be the number one priority for the team following his performances in the first weeks of the 2025 season.
The quarterback, who was on a one-year, $14 million deal, is projected to get a new contract worth over $200 million.
According to Over the Cap, Indianapolis will have around $35 million in available cap space. Needing to free up cap space, one NFL writer names a member of the Colts who should be traded.
Trading Away 6 Year Vet
GettyThe Indianapolis Colts may trade away a former second-round pick
The first option to make cap space is getting rid of players on expiring contracts, with Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine naming this member of the Colts as a trade piece.
Wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. is entering the final year of his three-year, $70 million deal with Indianapolis with a $29 million cap hit on the 2026 season.
Ballentine believes the Denver Broncos should acquire Pittman Jr., naming him as a top trade target for the team.
“Sean Payton’s team came up just short of a Super Bowl berth, so there’s [an] incentive to make the kind of move to get them over the top. Making an enticing offer to the Colts for Michael Pittman Jr. would certainly qualify,” Ballentine wrote.
“Pittman Jr. was eclipsed by Alec Pierce as the No. 1 option in Indianapolis this season. Now Pierce is headed toward free agency and the Colts could clear $24 million in cap space by trading him.”
The Broncos’ adding Pittman Jr. would give Bo Nix another solid receiving target. The receiver recorded his fifth straight season, logging more than 750 receiving yards and 3 touchdown receptions.
Going to Denver should interest Pittman. Landing with a young, proven quarterback in Nix and not having to worry about who will be the QB, as Indy had three different starting quarterbacks in the season.
Keeping Key Member Of Offense
GettyThe Colts may have a new number one option at wide receiver
When it comes to the Indianapolis Colts receiving core, the team may already have a new number one option.
Alec Pierce, as mentioned above, has already moved ahead of Michael Pittman Jr in the Colts wide receiver depth chart. The former Cincinnati Bearcat logged his first 1,000-yard receiving season, even with multiple quarterbacks throwing in his direction this season.
Pierce will be 26 years old by the start of next season, while Pittman will be 29 in the middle of the season.
Projections show that the wide receiver will be receiving a contract with an average annual value of around $20 million.
If the Colts make some space by trading away Michael Pittman Jr., then keeping Alec Pierce shouldn’t be too difficult — the latter mentioned that if Indy retains Daniel Jones, it would make his decision in staying with the team easier.
Jason Garcia Jason Garcia is a sports contributor for Heavy Sports who joined the team in 2025, covering the New England Patriots, Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers. More about Jason Garcia
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