{"id":857607,"date":"2026-04-06T21:54:29","date_gmt":"2026-04-06T21:54:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/857607\/"},"modified":"2026-04-06T21:54:29","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T21:54:29","slug":"colts-eyeing-31-touchdown-weapon-as-michael-pittman-jr-replacement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/857607\/","title":{"rendered":"Colts Eyeing 31-Touchdown Weapon as Michael Pittman Jr Replacement"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\"Elijah\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGetty\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Indiana wide receiver Elijah Sarratt<\/p>\n

The Indianapolis Colts<\/a> traded Michael Pittman Jr.<\/a> to the Pittsburgh Steelers<\/a> to create $24 million in cap space to retain Daniel Jones<\/a> and Alec Pierce<\/a> for the 2026 season.<\/p>\n

Pierce is set to become WR1 on the team and tight end Tyler Warren<\/a> will have more targets in his second season in the NFL<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Indy was quiet in free agency and still has the cap space available to add another wide receiver. But one insider reveals that the Colts may snag a receiver in the upcoming draft to replace Pittman.<\/p>\n

Colts Eyeing National Champion Wide Receiver\"Elijah<\/p>\n

GettyThe Colts need more depth at the wide receiver position<\/p>\n

It will be hard to fill in the gap that Michael Pittman Jr. left. The former USC Trojan has recorded more than 780 receiving yards and 3 or more touchdown catches in every season since 2021, having hauled in 5,254 yards and 25 touchdowns for the Colts since being drafted in the 2020 draft.<\/p>\n

Indianapolis does not have a first-round pick this year, having traded to the New York Jets<\/a> in return for Sauce Gardner<\/a>, and will make their first selection with the 47th overall pick.<\/p>\n

Tony Pauline of Essentially Sports reports<\/a> that the Colts are eyeing Indiana National Champion Elijah Sarratt with a Day 2 selection.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith the NFL Draft just weeks away, the scramble to replace star talent is in full swing, and sources say the Indianapolis Colts have a specific target in mind to fill the void left by Michael Pittman Jr.,\u201d Pauline wrote. \u201cDespite signing Alec Pierce to a massive contract last month, the Colts [still] need a replacement for Pittman\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSources said that not only would Sarratt be a perfect replacement, but it would be a homecoming of sorts, as the wideout has been a terrific receiver for the Indiana Hoosiers the past two years and was a big part of the offense that propelled the program to the national title last season.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sarratt led the Big 10 with 15 touchdown catches, while logging 830 receiving yards as the second wide receiver option on Indiana\u2019s National Champion team (behind Omar Cooper Jr).<\/p>\n

Pauline mentions Sarratt could be a second-round or early third-round choice for teams in the upcoming draft. Indianapolis has the 47th and 78th overall picks, which aligns with Pauline\u2019s mention of where Sarratt could be selected.<\/p>\n

NFL analyst Lance Zierlein compared<\/a> the National Champion winner to Allen Larzard<\/a>, describing him as a \u201cbig receiver whose competitiveness and elite catch-phase execution allow him to overcome his athletic limitations.\u201d<\/p>\n

With Daniel Jones entering his second season in the Colts offensive scheme, Elijah Sarratt could be set up for a promising rookie year.<\/p>\n

Colts Fourth-Year Receiver Set for Big Season\"Josh<\/p>\n

GettyA Shane Steichen draft pick could have a strong 2026 season<\/p>\n

While the Indianapolis Colts still need to make some additions to the receiving core, a fourth-year member of the team could have a bounce-back year.<\/p>\n

At the NFL Annual Meeting, head coach Shane Steichen mentioned<\/a>\u00a0Josh Downs<\/a> will get more targets heading into the 2026 season.<\/p>\n

Downs, a third-round draft selection by Indy in the 2023 NFL Draft, had his worst receiving yard season in 2025. With Michael Pittman Jr. now in the AFC North, Downs, who is entering the final year of his rookie contract, could return to his old self and get more yards and touchdowns.<\/p>\n

Regardless, Elijah Sarratt could still be added to the Colts squad to add more depth at the position.<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tJason Garcia<\/a> 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<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMore Heavy on Colts\n\t\t<\/p>\n

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