This 26-Year-Old Wide Receiver Just Receives Franchise Tag by the Colts

After four great seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, 26-year-old wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. has just been franchise-tagged by the Colts. Over these past four seasons, Pittman Jr. has caught for over 1,000 yards in 2021, and 2023. Indianapolis was extremely close to making the playoffs last season. If the Colts hadn’t lost to the Houston Texans during the final week of regular season play, Indianapolis would have won the AFC South division and a top-four playoff spot. Michael Pittman along with some of his teammates were the reason why the Colts got so close to playing near the end of January. Now, back with the Colts the young wide receiver has a chance to show why he’s one of the league’s best. 

The 26-year-old wide receiver played all four of his college football years at the University of Southern California. During that time, he was voted to the first team All-Pac-12 twice in 2017 and 2019, while also being named to the second team All-American in 2019. Michael Pittman Jr. considered leaving USC after his junior year but opted to play his senior year after receiving a third-round grade from the NFL Draft Advisory Board. Instead, he would get drafted in the second round as the 34th overall selection in 2020. 

During this past season, Pittman Jr. played in 16 games for the Colts. With 109 receptions, the 26-year-old wide receiver had 1,152 receiving yards with four touchdown catches. Michael had three different games where he caught for 100-plus yards. His best game of the season had to be on November 26th in a matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Michael Pittman Jr. had ten receptions for 107 yards in a 27-20 win. He’ll eye to make his first Pro Bowl appearance in 2024 and hopefully help the Colts make the playoffs in 2024.