Will wide receiver Michael Pittman be back with the Indianapolis Colts for the 2026 NFL season?
At the NFL combine, general manager Chris Ballard was asked about Pittman’s future.
“I think the world of Pitt and who he is as a player,” Ballard said. “Any suggestion that he’s not going to be here is a pure hypothetical in my mind.”
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Pittman is still under contract, but the reason that this is in question is because of the massive salary cap hit he possesses this season. According to Over the Cap, Pittman is set to earn $22 million next season and has a cap hit of $29 million.
For some context around Pittman’s contract, he will have the seventh-largest salary cap hit of any receiver in football. His base salary is tied for the seventh-largest as well.
While Pittman continues to provide a steady, reliable presence in the Colts’ passing game, his production compared to his base salary and cap hit doesn’t align.
Pittman’s 773 receiving yards this past season ranked 29th in the NFL, according to PFF.
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Releasing Pittman would create $24 million in cap-savings for the Colts, which would help the team absorb new deals for Daniel Jones and Alec Pierce.
If Ballard wants to keep Pittman on the team, he could approach him about taking a pay cut, but Pittman would have to be on board with that strategy.
Pittman is aware of what could transpire this offseason.
“I’ve been here for six years, it’s been a good six,” Pittman said after the 2025 season via ESPN. “I’m hoping it’s not, but if this is my last, then I’ve really had a great time playing here.
“Every player is self aware. I know I didn’t cut it. And I look back at the first half, I’m like, man, it was going so good. And then something pivoted, it changed and then it went downhill. So obviously when you have a year like this, I mean, you know that change can come.”
This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: NFL combine: Colts’ Chris Ballard on Michael Pittman’s future
