For the first move of the free agent tampering window, the Indianapolis Colts brought back talented young wide receiver Alec Pierce on a massive deal, which seemed to reveal the status of another player on the roster.
Veteran Michael Pittman, on his large contract, was going to be too expensive for the Colts to keep, so they traded him to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Steelers Partner Up Star WR Michael Pittman With DK Metcalf
The Steelers have made many changes this offseason, specifically the most impactful one being the departure of head coach Mike Tomlin. Pittsburgh hired Mike McCarthy to take over, and although the QB situation is not yet confirmed, there is a strong feeling that Aaron Rodgers will be back. This can create some consistency with the team, but the WR room needed upgrades.
DK Metcalf had a good first year in Pittsburgh, but adding someone next to him was needed, and now, that is Pittman.
Trade! The Colts are sending WR Michael Pittman Jr. to the Steelers.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 9, 2026
Pittman was in the last year of a three-year, $70M contract, but the Steelers have signed him to a new three-year, $59M deal. Pittman will turn 29 years old in October, so age will be a concern moving forward, but with the extension, the Steelers do not view it as a concern.
Last season, Pittman was ranked 50th overall in PFSN’s WR Impact Metric. Besides 2021, this has really been the case with his rankings since coming to the NFL, and it shows what he is as a WR.
Pittman won’t be that WR1 to take over, hence why the Colts went with Pierce, but he can be an excellent WR2. For the Steelers, that is exactly what they are going to want from him with Metcalf being the clear WR1. If the Colts could have afforded to keep Pittman, they would have, but because of the Peirce signing, it was never going to happen.
For the Steelers, this team is once again going to compete for the playoffs this season, and with a veteran coach like McCarthy, they should be able to get there. Pittman is the perfect win-now move to increase the likelihood of that outcome, especially if Rodgers stays in Pittsburgh. The former Colts WR could quickly become one of his favorite targets.
Editor’s Note: This is a breaking news story and will be updated throughout the day as more information becomes available.
