It did not take long for the Indianapolis Colts to solve the dilemma surrounding the future of Michael Pittman Jr. as the team confirmed that they re-signed the star wide receiver to a long-term extension.
The Colts placed the franchise tag on the 26-year-old on March 5 but decided to replace it with a lucrative three-year, $70 million contract with $46 million guaranteed.
The amount can go as high as $71 million through incentives.
After his illustrious career with the USC Trojans, Pittman Jr. was drafted 34th overall by Indianapolis in 2020.
He is set to become a free agent this coming spring and is bound to get a huge payday.
The Colts' offer arrived a few months after he finished the 2023 season with his career-best 109 catches for 1,152 yards and four touchdowns.
Although the Colts have yet to see a playoff game before his rookie year, many experts believe they are trending in the right direction, with Pittman Jr. among their major weapons.
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In his four seasons as a pro-NFL player, he already recorded 336 catches for 3,662 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Colts fans loved the move by the front office, but there is more to it.
Investing in the now
The future is now for the Indianapolis Colts.
Pittman's contract extension hints that the team is investing in its young core, putting it in the best position to improve.
"It's huge. When you have a reliable player like Pitt that is going to show up every Sunday and make plays like he does, it definitely helps a young quarterback," Colts coach Shane Steichen said about Pittman last week after the franchise tag.
"To keep getting that chemistry with those two guys, building, will be huge for Anthony's growth."
Richardson was the Colts' fourth overall pick last year. He provided a glimpse of what he could do as a playcaller, but unfortunately, he suffered a grade three AC joint sprain during Week 5.
He was shut down for the whole season for that.
He is recovering and expected to be ready by the time offseason workouts commence.
Although a small sample size, the Colts were getting whatever they wanted from him as their prized draft pick.
He played only four games and went 2-2. He threw for 577 passing yards and three touchdowns, with a 59.5 percent completion rate.
One of Richardson's more memorable plays was converting his first touchdown pass to Michael Pittman Jr. during Week 1.
Aside from Richardson and Pittman Jr., the Colts are also banking on running back Jonathan Taylor.
Taylor earlier had qualms about re-signing with the Colts but eventually accepted a three-year, $42 million extension.
Team owner Jim Irsay said that Richardson was among the reasons Taylor re-signed.
These three young players make the Colts extra exciting. They are all athletic and powerful for their respective positions.
The chemistry between them showed in the few games they played together.
"Getting the ball in his hands you see what he can do," Richardson said about Pittman in January when asked about his vision when he returns.
"He's a physical receiver. He can catch, he can block, he can do it all. He's smart. I appreciate him."
Pittman Jr. and Taylor are Richardson's best weapons, and keeping them could accelerate the 21-year-old quarterback's development.
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