For the second offseason in a row, the Pittsburgh Steelers are trading for a wide receiver. The Steelers have struck a deal with the Indianapolis Colts to acquire wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. in a late-round pick swap, per CBS Sports NFL insider Jonathan Jones. Pittsburgh is also signing Pittman to a new three-year, $59 million extension, as the pass catcher had just one more year remaining on the $71.5 million contract he signed in 2024.
This move comes just minutes after the Colts extended one of their other wideouts, as they agreed to terms with Alec Pierce on a four-year, $116 million deal that made him the highest-paid wide receiver in free agency history. Pierce was considered to be one of the top free agents this year, and the Colts broke the bank to keep him. That left Pittman expendable. Follow live updates on NFL free agency
Last season, Pittman caught 80 passes for 784 yards and seven touchdowns. The former second-round pick and son of Super Bowl champion Michael Pittman has recorded two 1,000-yard receiving seasons in his six years, including a 1,152-yard campaign in 2023.Â
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The Steelers were in the market for some wide receiver help as they turn the page on the Mike Tomlin era. DK Metcalf, whom Pittsburgh acquired from the Seattle Seahawks last year, was the Steelers’ leading receiver in 2025, as he caught 59 passes for 850 yards and six touchdowns in 15 games played. No other player crossed 490 yards receiving. Pittman will automatically help Mike McCarthy’s passing attack, but the Steelers still have to figure out who their quarterback will be.Â
Let’s attempt to grade this surprising trade that came down on the first day of free agency.
Steelers: B+
A late-round pick swap is a nothing price for a 6-foot-4, 223-pound perimeter wide receiver. Although it’s understood that this was more of a financial move for Indianapolis. The three-year, $59 million extension makes Pittman the No. 25 highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL behind Jakobi Meyers of the Jacksonville Jaguars ($20 million) and ahead of Jerry Jeudy of the Cleveland Browns ($17.5 million).
Pittsburgh’s offense was in for a major makeover this offseason. Calvin Austin III is a free agent, Kenneth Gainwell reportedly agreed to terms with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Jonnu Smith has been released, and then other players such Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Scotty Miller and Connor Heyward are free agents. The Steelers are adding a big-bodied target with starting experience that could benefit from a change of scenery, and doing so at a relatively cheap price is a good thing. Two 6-foot-4 wideouts on the outside will be beneficial for any quarterback, whether that’s Aaron Rodgers, Will Howard, Kyler Murray or Ty Simpson.
Colts: C
This story is much more about Pierce’s new deal. He was one of the most talked-about free agents over the last few weeks and the Colts found a way to keep him at $29 million per year. Again, that makes Pierce the highest-paid wide receiver in NFL free agency history, and places him in the top 10 of highest-paid pass-catchers. Pittman was the Colts’ WR1, but now, that’s going to be Pierce. How is that going to look?
Pierce became the first player to lead the NFL in yards per reception in back-to-back seasons since Ashley Lelie of the Denver Broncos back in 2005. His 21.3 yards per reception last year were also the most by a player with 1,000 yards receiving since DeSean Jackson in 2010. Pierce is definitely more than just an elite deep threat, but he will be under more pressure to produce now that he’s paid and with Pittman out of the picture.
Pittman was always viewed as a trade candidate this offseason, as the Colts have other important players to pay. Not only was Pierce set to hit free agency, but quarterback Daniel Jones is also looking for a new deal coming off a career year despite the fact that he tore his Achilles in December. Indy placed the transition tag on him, but aim to sign the former No. 6 overall pick to a multi-year deal. Ideally the Colts could have gotten something more than just a late-round pick swap, but that apparently was the going rate.Â
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