The Indianapolis Colts were absolutely rolling to open the 2025 NFL season. Through eight weeks, the Colts were 7-1, Daniel Jones was an MVP candidate, and the offense ranked first in EPA per play by a wide margin.
After the hot start, the Colts’ front office pushed its chips in, sending two first-rounders to land Sauce Gardner ahead of the trade deadline.
Unfortunately, everything quickly unraveled. Jones tore his Achilles in Week 14, and a seven-game losing streak to close out the year kept them out of the playoffs.
Could Indianapolis bounce back in 2026 and reclaim its early-season form? Absolutely, but it won’t be an easy task.
The Colts will have to make a few tough decisions this offseason, and one of them will be parting ways with fan-favorite wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr.
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Colts Will Release Michael Pittman Jr.
A couple of offensive players in Indianapolis are set to receive significant paydays this offseason. One is Jones; despite the injury, the Colts are working to extend him, and to do so, he’ll need a raise. The other is wide receiver Alec Pierce, who has also earned a pay bump after a breakout season.
In order to make room for both of those contracts, the front office will have to clear some cap space, and the most obvious cut candidate is Pittman.
His contract features no guaranteed money this offseason, and if the Colts release him, they’ll save $24 million in 2026.
The Colts will have to ask themselves whether that $24 million, which is a meaningful amount of money, is better used to retain Pittman or to invest elsewhere.
The answer will be the latter.
Pittman is a quality player; that’s tough to argue. He’s a two-time 1,000-yard receiver who can still make a meaningful impact on the field. However, he’s not irreplaceable, and the Colts are in a good spot in the weapons department.
Pierce is emerging as one of the league’s premier deep threats and can feasibly be retained if Pittman is released. Josh Downs, with limited opportunities, has consistently been reliable in the shallow areas of the field. Tyler Warren, in just his first NFL season, established himself as one of the league’s next do-it-all tight ends.
The offense will do more than just get by without Pittman in the fold.
There’s no doubt that moving on from Pittman would be a tough decision. He’s been with the team for six seasons, and he’s seen it all: a playoff berth, a four-win season, a revolving door of quarterbacks, and a team that looked like a legitimate Super Bowl contender.
Unfortunately, loyalty and familiarity only go so far. More often than not, dollars and cents drive big decisions, and moving on from Pittman is the best financial move for Indianapolis.
Perhaps the Colts find a way to have it all—extend both Pierce and Jones while retaining Pittman—but all signs are pointing to Pittman becoming one of the most attractive names on the free agent market.
Michael Pittman Jr. Stats
Pittman had a solid year in 2025, but the numbers don’t jump off the page.
2025 Stats:
17 games played
111 targets
80 receptions
784 receiving yards
9.8 yards per reception
7 receiving touchdowns
Michael Pittman Jr. Contract
Pittman is currently playing for the Colts on a three-year, $70 million contract. The 2026 season will be the final year of the deal, and his contract features $0 of guaranteed money this year.
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