Colts Michael Pittman Jr. Provides Update on Contract Extension
As offseason programs begin around the NFL, this is the time of year when contract extension talks also begin to arise.
The Indianapolis Colts have a few players entering the final year of their deals and will be up for extensions. One of those is Michael Pittman Jr., the 2020 second-round pick who has been the leading wide receiver for the Colts for the past two seasons. Pittman is entering the final year of his rookie deal and is poised to cash in on a second contract.
But a contract extension is not really on his mind right now.
"I wouldn't say it's a goal," Pittman said when asked if getting an extension done was a goal of his. "I think that happens naturally with performance. And if it doesn't happen this year, that's no big deal. It'll happen eventually."
Since being drafted in 2020, Pittman has become the best and most reliable target for all the various quarterbacks under center for the Colts. Pittman racked up 99 catches for 925 yards (9.3 ypr) and four touchdowns last season, even with all of the quarterback troubles in Indy. In three seasons, Pittman has amassed 227 catches for 2,510 yards and 11 touchdowns while catching passes from five different starting quarterbacks.
Some would argue that kind of production without consistent quarterback play is a testament to the type of receiver Pittman is. He has proven to be a reliable weapon that can be counted on at any time, something his agent will assuredly bring up in contract negotiations.
Pittman is leaving all of that to his agent, however, as the 25-year-old just wants to focus on ball.
"I just kind of let that business side, just leave that to my agent because that's what I pay him to do," Pittman explained. "Because you don't really want it to be muddied up, right? The contract talks and everything, just from guys that I've talked to, it can get ugly ... So I don't want anything to do with those. I just want to play."
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Under general manager Chris Ballard, the Colts have been known to get extensions done with their top players during the summer before their contract year begins. Some notable players who have received extensions before the season include Quenton Nelson, Shaquille Leonard, and Braden Smith. Like those three, Pittman hinted that talks may have already begun between the two sides.
"I'm just going to leave that up to (my agent)," he said. "There might have been a couple of talks here and there but I'm just ready to focus on this season and then if it happens, it happens. If it doesn't happen, then it will happen eventually."
Pittman is not sweating the contract negotiations as there are more important matters to worry about. He and his Colts teammates are focused on turning an offense around that finished 30th in points per game and 27th in yards per game. Combine that with the fact that a rookie quarterback will likely be leading the charge, and the task is a tall one.
Enter Shane Steichen, the new head coach of the Colts who is known for his offensive acumen and his success with various types of quarterbacks. Pittman has spent the offseason training in Indianapolis as he and his wife prepare for the birth of their second child. It has allowed him to already meet with Steichen and get a jump on learning the new offensive staff.
"They brought Shane in here to help out our offense because last year, it's no secret we struggled," Pittman admitted. "Defense played well and offense, at times, we didn't play well enough to win. So he's here to fix that."
The Colts offense was abysmal in 2022. The quarterback play was atrocious. The offensive line was a turnstile at times. Nothing seemed to go right for the unit.
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But 2023 is a new year with a new team and a new coaching staff. While the pain of last season is still there, Pittman thinks it is good to remember how bad those times felt and use it as motivation.
"(The regret is) always there, which I don’t know, might be good because we don’t ever want to feel like that ever again. That was probably the ultimate low of my football career.”
He continued, "Looking back (at) last year, the only way is up, right? We haven't really got into specifics yet because we're more focusing on scheme, but our goal is obviously to win games so we just have that belief and we're starting with that from day one. We're here to win games."
Hearing from players like Pittman and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, there is a new focus with this team. They understand how far they have fallen since their 2020 playoff berth. The level of play has not been up to their standard.
There have been a lot of changes over at West 56th Street this offseason, with plenty more to come. But with a new coaching staff and a new quarterback, the future could be looking up in Indy.
Pittman wants to be in Indy long-term. He thinks the contract extension will take care of itself if he goes out and produces for his team. The early indications from his new head coach seem to point to plenty of opportunities for him to do just that.
"I'll just say that (Steichen) is very excited about the pass game, which I love that because I catch passes and he wants to throw it."
It may not take long for an extension to get done after all.
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