NFL veteran wide receiver Michael Pittman has received the franchise tag. Pittman, a former second-round pick out of USC, spent the entirety of his professional career with the Indianapolis Colts.
Colts Use Franchise Tag on Michael Pittman
Michael Pittman earned his big payday following the best season of his career. Appearing in 16 out of a possible 17 games, the wideout finished the campaign with 109 receptions for 1,152 yards and four touchdowns on 159 targets. The receptions and yards were career-highs and made all the more impressive by the fact that he spent the majority of the year catching passes from a backup quarterback in Gardner Minshew. While the team narrowly missed the playoffs, they still vastly exceeded expectations.
Pittman originally entered the league as a second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Selected by the Indianapolis Colts, the wide receiver immediately became a complementary part of the passing attack. Working with a veteran Philip Rivers, the USC product finished his inaugural season with 40 receptions for 503 yards and one touchdown as the team made it to the playoffs.
Rivers retired the following offseason, and the team acquired Carson Wentz to take over under center. Armed with a new quarterback, Michael Pittman took the second-year jump and established himself as a true WR1. Starting in all 17 games, Pittman finished the season with 88 receptions for 1,082 yards and a career-best six touchdowns.
The 2022 season saw yet another quarterback change for the Colts, as the team started a well past his prime Matt Ryan, Sam Ehlinger, and Nick Foles throughout the season. Despite the subpar quarterback play, Michael Pittman still found a way to finish with 99 receptions for 925 yards and four touchdowns.
Since signing his rookie contract, Michael Pittman has appeared in 62 games while making 56 starts. While on the field, the wideout has recorded 336 receptions for 3,662 yards and 15 touchdowns on 487 targets.
Main Photo: Robert Scheer – USA Today Sports
