Indianapolis Colts DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

The Indianapolis Colts and standout wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. agreed to a three-year, $70 million contract extension on Monday, according to a source. The deal can reach up to $71.5 million maximum and includes $46 million guaranteed. The deal means that Pittman won't play the 2024 season under the franchise tag. It's a major win for both sides. The Colts had no intentions of letting one of the best receivers in the game reach the open market, which is why they used their franchise tag on the 26-year-old to buy them a little extra time to work on an extension. The former second-round pick in 2020 out of USC had a career-high 1,152 receiving yards and four touchdowns on a career-high 109 receptions in 16 games in 2023 and is a no-doubt WR1 in fantasy.

The Indianapolis Colts are using their franchise tag on wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. on Tuesday, according to sources. The tag will be worth $21.816 million, so that's what Pittman will receive in 2024 if he and the Colts aren't able to agree on a long-term extension by the deadline in mid-July. The Colts made it clear that they weren't going to let the 26-year-old wideout reach the open market this offseason. Despite working with quarterback Gardner Minshew for the majority of 2023, the former second-rounder in 2020 out of USC put up career-highs in catches (109), targets (156) and receiving yards (1,152) while scoring four times in 16 games. Pittman is a no-doubt WR1 in fantasy that could have even more upside with young QB Anthony Richardson (shoulder) returning in 2024.

Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard said that impending free-agent wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. will be on the roster come Week 1 of the 2024 season this fall, either by an extension or the franchise tag, if necessary. The Colts aren't planning to let Pittman get away in free agency this offseason. The 26-year-old would make $21.8 million this year if he plays under the franchise tag, but both sides would prefer an extension. The former second-round pick in 2020 out of USC has blossomed into a WR1 in fantasy after four seasons in the league, two of which (including 2023) resulted in 1,000-yard seasons. Pittman had career-highs in catches (109), targets (156) and receiving yards (1,152) while scoring four times in 16 games last year. He could get even better with young quarterback Anthony Richardson returning from injury in 2024.

New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen said that quarterback Daniel Jones (knee) started stationary throwing two weeks ago, and the team thinks he could do 7-on-7 work this spring. Jones is currently on track to be ready for the start of training camp this summer. "I have faith in Daniel (Jones) as our starting quarterback," Schoen said. Despite Jones tearing his ACL last year, the Giants continue to put their faith in him as their starter going into the 2024 season, although they won't hesitate to add a QB in the upcoming NFL draft if the situation presents itself. The 27-year-old signed a four-year, $160 million extension before the 2023 season looked pretty bad behind an atrocious offensive line last season before his injury. If Jones struggles again early in 2024, the Giants could be looking to move on from him sooner than later.

The Athletic's James Boyd writes that Indianapolis Colts tight end Mo Alie-Cox is an easy target if the team wishes to create more salary cap space this offseason. He's entering the final year of a three-year, $17.6 million contract extension that he signed in 2022. Alie-Cox is due the last $5.9 million of that in 2024, but none of it is guaranteed. The 30-year-old is the team's best blocking tight end and has recorded at least three touchdowns in each of the last three seasons, but he's not getting any younger and is unlikely to develop into a true No. 1 pass-catching tight end at this point of his career. Both Will Mallory and third-year tight end Jelani Woods, who missed all of 2023 with hamstring issues, give the Colts more upside at the position amid their current youth movement. Alie-Cox hasn't been much more than a low-upside, touchdown-dependent TE2 option for fantasy managers in deep leagues.