The writing is on the wall in Indianapolis, and it’s being written in red ink.
Michael Pittman Jr. — the most reliable pass-catcher the Colts have had since Reggie Wayne — is almost certainly suiting up in a different uniform in 2026.
Pittman is the most likely cap casualty in Indianapolis this offseason, with a jaw-dropping $29 million cap hit that carries zero guaranteed money. The math is brutally simple: cut him, save $24 million, absorb just $5 million in dead money, and use that windfall to re-sign quarterback Daniel Jones.
Even Pat McAfee — the former Colts punter-turned-media-megastar who rarely lets a hot take go uncontested — fired back on social media when the rumors surfaced. “DON’T LOVE THIS,” McAfee posted on X. “Dude is a dawg thru and thru.”
Below, we’ll recap Pittman’s 2025 season and uncover where he could land in free agency if he’s released by the Colts.
Recapping Pittman’s Production in 2025
This isn’t a story of a player falling off a cliff. Pittman posted 80 catches, 784 yards, and a career-high seven touchdowns in 2025. While the yardage total was his lowest single-season output since his rookie year, the 28-year-old was actually off to a strong start to the year. Through nine games, had 561 yards and six touchdowns, putting him on pace for 1,060 yards and 11 touchdowns.
When Jones fractured his fibula and eventually tore his Achilles, it sent the Colts season into a tailspin and Pittman’s production went with it. Those circumstances were beyond his control. He had more than 35 yards just one time over the final eight games of the regular season, finishing with an average of just 27.8 yards per game during that span.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Why It Makes Sense: DK Metcalf is the unquestioned WR1 in Pittsburgh but the Steelers sorely lacked a threat on the other side last season. Pittman could be the perfect fit for new head coach Mike McCarthy’s West Coast offense.
He is a 6-foot-4 possession receiver who runs clean routes, converts third downs, and excels in the short-to-intermediate area of the field — the exact complementary skill set that opens up the vertical shots Metcalf thrives on. Pittman also gives Pittsburgh’s red zone offense a boost,
Pittman also brings something arguably more valuable than his on-field production: credibility. He’s a veteran leader who has been a team captain, and he would immediately command respect in a locker room that is in the middle of a significant cultural reset.
The financial piece works too. If released by the Colts, Pittman hits the market as a free agent who would almost certainly accept a deal in the $14-16 million per year range — team-friendly money for a proven commodity.
The Fit: A-tier. Pittsburgh has the most clearly defined need in the league for exactly what Pittman provides, and McCarthy’s system is purpose-built to maximize what he does best.
Las Vegas Raiders
Why It Makes Sense: Of all the teams mentioned in Pittman’s rumor cycle, the Raiders might have the most urgent need.
Las Vegas enters this offseason with arguably the worst wide receiver room in football. The Raiders are also set to hand the keys to No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza and need to pair the rookie quarterback with trustworthy targets around him to have any chance of success.
Pittman is tailor-made for this situation. He is the kind of professional route-runner who makes young quarterbacks look good. He sits down in zones, runs precise routes, and catches everything that hits his hands.
Head coach Klint Kubiak will be installing his own offensive system in Las Vegas, and Pittman’s versatility gives him a lot of flexibility, especially with young stars like Brock Bowers and Ashton Jeanty already on the roster
The Fit: A- tier. The need is undeniable, the quarterback timeline lines up, and Las Vegas has the cap space to make a competitive offer. This feels like one of the more likely landing spots.
San Francisco 49ers
Why It Makes Sense: Brandon Aiyuk is almost certain to be cut or traded this offseason, a stunning fall from grace for a player who signed a massive extension not long ago. Jauan Jennings is also a pending free agent whom NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco doesn’t expect to return.
That leaves Ricky Pearsall as San Francisco’s primary receiving option, and while the second-year receiver has shown flashes, he has played just 20 games during his first two NFL campaigns.
Enter Pittman, who would give San Francisco the proven veteran presence they desperately need to bridge the gap. The 49ers run a complex, timing-based West Coast offense that rewards receivers with precise route-running and strong hands.
Coach Kyle Shanahan has long valued reliable, physical pass-catchers who can win in traffic, and Pittman’s physical profile fits that mold.
There’s also a motivation angle worth mentioning. Pittman told reporters this offseason that he’d love to be used more as a vertical threat, something the Colts’ RPO-heavy system never fully allowed.
San Francisco’s offense, with its designed deep shots and post-snap manipulation, could actually unlock parts of Pittman’s game that have been dormant in Indianapolis.
The Fit: B+ tier. The fit is excellent on paper, but San Francisco has other pressing needs and cap constraints that could push them toward a younger, cheaper option.
The Bottom Line
While the price might not be right in Indianapolis, Pittman Jr. still has a lot of good football left in him.
At 28 years old, with two 1,000-yard seasons on his résumé and a career-high seven touchdowns last year, there’s a lot to like. He is going to land somewhere and remind people why he was paid like one of the league’s top up-and-coming receivers in the first place.
For the team that scoops up Pittman on the back end of the market, this could be one of the steals of the offseason.
The dominos start falling when Indianapolis makes it official. But no matter where Pittman Jr. lands, he’ll have a chance to be a difference-maker in 2026.
