Chris Ballard and the Indianapolis Colts are off to a fast start to begin the NFL offseason. Just moments after re-signing Alec Pierce to a massive four-year contract, the team pulled off a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
According to a report from The Athletic NFL insider Dianna Russini, the Colts have traded starting wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. to the Steelers.
“Trade! The Colts are trading WR Michael Pittman Jr. to the Steelers, sources tell The Athletic,” she wrote on X.
Russini also shared that Indianapolis is getting a late-round pick swap from Pittsburgh in exchange for Pittman.
Some fans may not love the move for the Colts. Pierce has shown signs of development, but trading Pittman away along with giving him a major contract is a risk. However, the positive side is that trading Pittman opens up $24 million in cap space for Indianapolis.
What the Colts Are Losing in Wide Receiver Michael Pittman Jr.
Pittman has been a key starter for the Colts over the years. He never quite developed to being a legitimate No. 1 target in Indianapolis.
During the 2025 NFL season, Pittman played in 17 games. He caught 80 passes for 784 yards and seven touchdowns.
Now that his tenure with the Colts has come to an end, Pittman will finish having played six years in Indianapolis. He appeared in 95 total games, racking up 485 receptions for 5,254 yards and 25 touchdowns.
At 28 years old, Pittman will now have an opportunity join a Pittsburgh offense that already features DK Metcalf as the No. 1. The presence of Metcalf should help alleviate pressure off of Pittman and allow him to settle into a more comfortable role.
The Steelers Are a Perfect Fit for Pittman
Shortly after the trade was made, the Steelers were able to extend Pittman on a new three-year, $59 million deal, according to NFL insider Mike Garafolo.
Last season, Pittsburgh was aggressively looking for a No. 2 wide receiver at the trade deadline. Being able to pivot this offseason to acquiring Pittman is exactly what the offense needed.
Now, the question becomes, can the Steelers bring back Aaron Rodgers? The addition of Pittman should certainly help that case. Pittman will have a strong chance to be one of the best No. 2 wide receivers in all of football.
Expect to hear a lot more news coming out across the NFL in the coming hours. The Colts and Steelers are clearly motivated to be aggressive and coming together on this trade featuring Pittman was a needed move for both teams.
Report: Colts Pull Off Surprising Trade With Steelers