Colts GM Informs $70M Offensive Star He Is Being Traded — Agents Now Exploring Next Team Options

Change is beginning to take shape in Indianapolis as the Indianapolis Colts enter a defining 2026 offseason.

After a 2025 season that exposed limitations across the offense, the Colts now face some of the most consequential personnel decisions of the current regime — particularly when it comes to balancing high-priced veterans against long-term flexibility and a shifting offensive core.

According to league sources, one of the franchise’s most prominent and highest-paid offensive players has been formally informed that his future with the organization is under evaluation. That player is Michael Pittman Jr..

Pittman, the Colts’ No. 1 wide receiver, is in the midst of a contract that once symbolized Indianapolis’ commitment to building around him: a deal valued at roughly $70 million. Entering 2026, he carries the highest wide receiver cap hit on the roster — projected in the $20–25 million range depending on restructuring — a figure that immediately draws scrutiny given the team’s broader offensive reset.

From a football standpoint, the context is complicated. Pittman remains the top target and emotional leader of the receiving room, but the Colts’ depth has quietly evolved. Alec Pierce is viewed internally as a free-agent priority, Josh Downs has emerged as a reliable chain-mover, and Anthony Gould provides speed and developmental upside. The combination has led decision-makers to question whether a premium WR1 cap figure still aligns with the direction of the offense.

Financially, the implications are significant. A trade involving Pittman could free more than $15 million in cap space while potentially returning valuable Day 1 or Day 2 draft capital — assets that would accelerate a broader rebuild around a young quarterback and a retooled skill-position group. Multiple outlets, including Stampede Blue, have already identified Pittman as one of the Colts’ top trade candidates this offseason.

Internally, the sense is that this evaluation is not about diminishing Pittman’s value, but about timing. Indianapolis is weighing whether reallocating resources toward offensive line stability, defensive depth, and long-term flexibility offers a clearer path forward than maintaining a top-heavy receiver contract.

Sources indicate that Pittman’s representatives have begun monitoring league interest, particularly from teams seeking a proven, physical WR1 presence. While no deal is imminent, exploratory conversations are expected to intensify as the offseason progresses and receiver markets take shape.

For the Colts, this moment represents a crossroads rather than a breakup. Pittman has been a foundational piece, a locker-room leader, and a consistent producer through organizational transition. But in today’s NFL, roster construction is ruthless — and as Indianapolis positions itself for its next competitive window, even cornerstone contracts are subject to reevaluation when the future is at stake.