The Indianapolis Colts moved quickly to ensure that star wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr would remain with the team today, placing a non-exclusive franchise tag on the young pass catcher. The short version of this tag is that the Colts have until July 15 to negotiate a long-term deal, otherwise Pittman will play for one year at $21.8 million, the average of the top 10 players in the league at his position. Pittman can also negotiate with other teams, with the Colts having the option to either match any offer or receive two first round picks as compensation should he leave.
That’s all the need-to-know, technical stuff out of the way. Now, here’s why this decision matters.
This decision provides a safety net for both player and team, plain and simple. It starts with the Colts, of course, who need to keep Pittman around as a tool for quarterback Anthony Richardson to continue his development, the cog in the offense of head coach Shane Steichen that provides a reliable, sure-handed catch when one is needed most. Losing Pittman would have meant having to find multiple new receivers this off season, and even though the team is brimming with cap space, general manager Chris Ballard surely wouldn’t love the idea of replacing productivity AND adding explosive athletic ability at that position. Now that the tag is in place, they shouldn’t have that worry. Sure, Pittman has the right to look around, but the last time a player on this tag actually left his current team was Joey Galloway leaving Seattle in 2000. So even though they’ll continue to negotiate with Pittman until this summer, they can rest a little easier knowing that their most reliable target is secure for at least this year.
For Pittman himself, the tag means he’s getting paid. That much is obvious. It also means that he recognizes that the Colts care enough about him to want him around for the long haul, while respecting him enough to give him wiggle room when it comes to his compensation. Indeed, this would be the time for Pittman to try and negotiate a better deal, as various other star wideouts around the league attempt to find new contracts, which would reset the market and potentially increase Pittman’s worth. Yet in the meantime, the tag means he’s not walking away with no salary and no job. He gets to stay where he’s comfortable and try to do better for himself at the same time. It’s a win-win for both player and team.
All indications are that Pittman wants to be a Colt. He’s never said differently, always spoken positively about the organization and his teammates, and to be quite honest, he’s had to put up with a lot of difficulty throughout the early years of his career. He’s done all this with grace and dignity, though, and built a lot of goodwill with the front office and coaching staff as a result. That, in all likelihood, should get this deal done at the end of the day.
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