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One NFL analyst proposes that the Indianapolis Colts trade Michael Pittman for a former first-round draft pick.
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell put together 11 trade proposals for the upcoming NFL offseason, one of which included the Indianapolis Colts’ Michael Pittman Jr.
In Barnwell’s trade, the Colts would send Pittman and a 2026 seventh-round pick to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for wide receiver Xavier Legette and a 2026 fifth-round pick.
“Pittman is making $22 million in the final year of the three-year extension he signed with the Colts,” Barnwell wrote. “After racking up 1,152 receiving yards in his final year before that contract extension, Pittman has managed 808 yards in 2024 and 784 this past year. He dropped from 24th in yards per route run among wide receivers in 2023 to 43rd in 2024 and 44th in 2025.”
Pittman has been by far the more productive wide receiver compared to Legette, who had just 36 receptions, 371 yards, and three touchdowns this past season.
Legette, a former first-round pick, has navigated inconsistent play over his first two NFL seasons.
However, this deal, if it were to actually happen, would be one that GM Chris Ballard should strongly consider making.
Pittman is already a cut candidate this offseason with a salary cap hit of $29 million. If the Colts were to release him, they would save $24 million in cap space.
While not a given, this is a move that could very well be in play this offseason, especially since the Colts could use that additional cap space to re-sign Alec Pierce and make a few other moves.
So if the Colts could get out of Pittman’s deal in a trade, while landing Legette, who is still on his rookie deal, that feels like a win.
As Barnwell notes, Legette is due just $4.4 million over the next two seasons, so adding his contract to the 2026 books won’t stop the Colts from making other moves.
The addition of Legette would round out the receiver depth chart without Pittman, and hopefully, a change of scenery could provide his career with a spark.
“If he fails to get there, it at least wouldn’t cost the Colts much,” Barnwell wrote.
Pittman would then be a good fit for what the Panthers’ offense is looking for.
“The 6-foot-4 Pittman would be another big target in a Panthers wide receiver room full of them, and Pittman’s work underneath would allow McMillan more freedom to work from the slot and at the intermediate and deep levels of the field,” Barnwell wrote.