It’s been a while since the Indianapolis Colts have been considered a legitimate contender, but they may be inching closer back to that type of status.
They may have their quarterback of the future in Anthony Richardson, whose rookie season in 2023 ended prematurely due to injury, and they have an absolute stud at running back in Jonathan Taylor, who is under contract through the 2026 season.
The Colts also have another stud in wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., who they used their franchise tag on.
As Adam Schefter noted, he’s the first player who has received their franchise tag since Pat McAfee, a punter who now has a popular talk show on ESPN, got it in 2013.
First time the Colts have used the franchise tag since 2013 with …. Pat McAfee. pic.twitter.com/rdOFKniGu2
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 5, 2024
In his fourth season out of the University of Southern California, Pittman caught 109 passes for 1,152 yards and four touchdowns during the 2023 campaign.
Even though Richardson was shelved after four games due to an AC joint sprain in his shoulder, Indianapolis still won nine games and came to the brink of claiming a playoff spot in the AFC.
They could use another legitimate threat at wideout, especially since some may even say Pittman isn’t capable of being a true WR1 on a Super Bowl-caliber team.
The Colts haven’t advanced to the AFC Championship Game since the 2014 campaign, back when Andrew Luck, a four-time Pro Bowler, was starting at quarterback for them, and they haven’t gotten to the Super Bowl since 2009, back in the days of Peyton Manning.
But the outlines of a contender may be visible right now in Indianapolis.
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