Colts’ Chris Ballard makes emphatic statement on Michael Pittman Jr.’s future

The top priority for the Indianapolis Colts at this point in the offseason is retaining some of the top talent set to hit the free-agent market, most notably wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr.

The Colts have some time to get a deal done before the market officially opens March 11 for the legal tampering period. They also have the ability to use the franchise tag before the March 5 deadline, which would effectively keep Pittman around while they further negotiate a deal.

One way or another, Pittman will be on the Colts roster in September—an emphatic statement general manager Chris Ballard made to reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine on Wednesday.

Pittman will be a Colt in September one way or the other, Ballard says definitively

— Joel A. Erickson (@JoelAErickson) February 28, 2024

This shouldn’t come as a major surprise. The Colts are either going to sign Pittman to a long-term deal or use the franchise tag to extend the window of negotiations. Either way, Pittman isn’t going to see the market as an unrestricted free agent.

It would cost the Colts $21.8 million if Pittman played the 2024 season on the franchise tag. But the Colts would likely use it simply to extend their window of negotiation since Pittman wouldn’t have to sign the tag until July.

“It’s a tool we have. I’m not going to say we’re not going to use it, but I’m not going to say we are,” Ballard said Wednesday of the franchise tag. “Hopefully we can come to an agreement and find some compromise on a deal.”

Pittman stated earlier this offseason that he has no qualms with the franchise tag as long as it leads to a long-term deal. Whether he would play the 2024 season on the franchise tag is another discussion.

Still, he understands the application of the tag isn’t a death knell in terms of getting a long-term deal done.

“The franchise tag is almost like a tag of respect, to get paid in the top five at your position,” Pittman said after the season. “I wouldn’t say, necessarily, no, I do not want to play on the tag, but you can use that to work toward a long-term deal.”

The Colts have until March 5 before they have to apply the tag, but Ballard made it clear Pittman will be on the roster one way or another.