INDIANAPOLIS — Michael Pittman Jr. is in rarified air.
On Tuesday, the Indianapolis Colts wide receiver became the first player hit with the franchise tag by the team since former punter Pat McAfee was tagged in 2013.
The non-exclusive tag guarantees Pittman a salary of $21.8 million for the 2024 season upon signing, but he can begin negotiating with outside teams when the NFL’s “legal tampering” period begins Monday.
If any team signs Pittman to an offer sheet, the Colts would have the right of first refusal. If Indianapolis declines to match the offer, it would receive two first-round picks as compensation.
The Colts can continue negotiations toward a long-term deal with Pittman until mid-July.
During an informal media session at last week’s NFL Combine, general manager Chris Ballard said he expects Pittman to be on the roster when the regular season begins in September.
And head coach Shane Steichen made it clear earlier Tuesday how much the franchise values the 26-year-old wide receiver.
“Here’s what I’ll say about Pitt,” Steichen said before news of the franchise tag designation broke. “The player he is, the person he is, the competitor he is, the playmaker he is, we love everything about him, obviously, and we want him to be a Colt.”
Pittman set career highs with 109 catches and 1,152 receiving yards in 2023, despite playing just four games with rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson under center.
He also had a career-long 75-yard touchdown reception on a slant pass from backup quarterback Gardner Minshew against the Cleveland Browns in October.
In four seasons since being drafted in the second round in 2020, Pittman has 336 catches for 3,662 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Though his time on the field with Richardson was short, bringing Pittman back into the fold is a huge factor for the quarterback’s development.
“When you have a reliable player like Pitt that is going to show up every Sunday and make plays like he does, it definitely helps a young quarterback,” Steichen said. “To keep getting that chemistry with those two guys building will be huge for Anthony’s growth.”
Pittman also has been a factor for the franchise off the field.
He organized summer throwing sessions for the wide receivers and quarterbacks last year in Miami, Florida, and he’s been the locker-room leader at his position in each of the past two seasons despite his young age.
Add in his eagerness to do the dirty work like blocking on the edge for star running back Jonathan Taylor, and Pittman’s value to the franchise goes well beyond the box score.
“He was obviously a huge leader in the wide receiver room, and not only in the wide receiver room but in the locker room,” Steichen said. “I think his leadership abilities showed on the field by the way he played, how tough he is, the competitor – like I said, I can’t say enough about the competitor that he is.
“I think when guys are ultimate competitors, you can lead by example, and that’s what he did every single Sunday. He’s reliable, and he’s always going to be there.”
CHARGES DROPPED
According to court records filed in Hendricks County, domestic battery charges against Colts tight end Drew Ogletree have been dismissed with prejudice.
Ogletree was arrested Dec. 29 in Avon and charged with domestic battery committed in the presence of a child less than 16 years old and domestic battery resulting in bodily injury.
In the motion to dismiss, prosecutors wrote “subsequent interviews with all of the parties involved revealed information and evidence not provided to law enforcement on the night of the alleged incident. The evidence is insufficient to prosecute this case.”
A sixth-round pick in 2022, Ogletree was placed on the commissioner’s exempt list after the arrest. He remains on that list and could still face punishment under the NFL’s personal conduct policy.
ROSTER MOVE
The Colts announced they’ve signed center Jack Anderson to a contract extension Tuesday.
The 25-year-old appeared in one game for Indianapolis last season and was eligible for restricted free agency. A seventh-round pick by the Buffalo Bills in 2021, Anderson has played 15 career games with the Philadelphia Eagles, New York Giants and Colts.
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