Tag: latest colts news

Report: Colts’ Michael Pittman Jr. agrees to 3-year contract extension

Michael Pittman Jr. gets his contract extension.

The Indianapolis Colts and wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. agreed to a three-year contract extension, according to multiple reports Monday.

After applying the franchise tag before the deadline last week, the Colts and Pittman were able to come to an agreement on a big, three-year deal before the start of free agency.

According to Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report, the deal is for three years and worth up to $71.5 million with $46 million guaranteed.

This move shouldn’t stop the Colts from adding to the wide receiver room, especially if a talented prospect like Rome Odunze or Brian Thomas Jr.—to name a few—are available with the No. 15 overall pick. But this locks in the team’s WR1 for the foreseeable future.

Pittman is coming off his best season in the NFL and has only gotten better with each season as a professional. He recorded 106 receptions for 1,152 yards during the 2023 season, both of which were career-high marks.

Despite working with seven different starting quarterbacks since entering the league in 2020, Pittman’s 3,662 receiving yards rank fifth among his peers in that draft class while his 336 receptions rank third behind only CeeDee Lamb (395) and Justin Jefferson (392).

In terms of Colts history, Pittman’s 336 receptions are the most in franchise history through a player’s first four seasons. He ranks third in receiving yards behind only T.Y. Hilton (4,413) and Marvin Harrison (4,141).

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Report: ‘A chance remains’ for Colts to re-sign Kenny Moore II

It seems there’s a chance the Colts re-sign Kenny Moore before free agency.

The Indianapolis Colts and cornerback Kenny Moore II are coming up on the legal tampering period, which allows pending free agents to negotiate with other teams.

Before that official time arrives Monday at noon ET, the Colts reportedly still have a chance to re-sign Moore to a contract, per Joel A. Erickson of The Indianapolis Star.

Erickson reported that “a chance remains” for a deal to get done before Moore is permitted to negotiate with other teams around the NFL.

One of the top free agents for the Colts set to hit the market, Moore would be a difficult player to replace. Though he’s typically viewed as a slot-only cornerback, he has experience working on the outside.

Moore’s impact goes beyond the strong coverage he put together in the slot during the 2023 season as well. His instincts and tackling abilities against the run make him an impact player in both phases of the game.

Where the Colts and Moore find themselves in terms of his value will be interesting. He’s still one of the best slot defenders in the NFL, but he will be entering his age-29 season.

We’ll see what happens over the next 24 hours before the legal tampering period begins, but it seems there’s still a chance a deal gets done.

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Dwight Freeney bestows Hall of Fame honor on Jim Irsay

Dwight Freeney wants the boss to present him in Canton.

Few owners can say they have the type of relationship with players that Jim Irsay has with the Indianapolis Colts. The recent request from Hall of Fame defensive end Dwight Freeney furthers that notion.

Irsay has been the presenter at the Hall of Fame induction ceremony for two of his players over the last decade. First, it was wide receiver Marvin Harrison in 2016. Then, it was running back Edgerrin James in 2020.

Now, the legendary Freeney will be added to the list of players who requested Irsay present them at their Hall of Fame induction.

Freeney was voted into the Hall of Fame as a part of the Class of 2024. He will officially be enshrined into Canton during the ceremony on Aug. 3.

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NFL draft: Colts awarded no 2024 compensatory selections

The Colts will be without comp picks during the 2024 NFL draft.

The Indianapolis Colts will go without any compensatory selections in the 2024 NFL draft, the league announced Friday.

This comes as no surprise. The Colts were not expected to earn any compensatory picks after spending a decent amount in free agency during the 2023 offseason.

The Colts will enter free agency with their seven draft selections and with the compensatory picks announced, we know the official order of where they will be choosing from, starting at No. 15 overall.

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Colts free agency: Salary cap update after franchise tag

Where the Colts stand in salary cap space after using the franchise tag.

The Indianapolis Colts used the non-exclusive franchise tag on wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. on Tuesday, which had a large impact on the team’s salary-cap space.

Fortunately for the Colts, they entered the offseason working with an abundance of cap space. Applying the franchise tag, which costs $21.8 million, also gives them the chance to work out a long-term deal, which could save them cap space depending on the structure.

After applying the one-year, fully guaranteed tender, the Colts now have roughly $49.2 million in cap space and just over $45 million in effective cap space, per Over The Cap.

Those figures rank seventh and sixth, respectively, among teams in the NFL.

Pittman won’t need to sign his franchise tender until the middle of July so they have time to wrinkle out the details on a long-term contract.

With that order of business on the shelf for now, the Colts now turn their focus to re-signing some of their big-name free agents like defensive tackle Grover Stewart and cornerback Kenny Moore II. Both players should have extremely strong markets.

We’ll see what’s in store for the Colts leading up to the open negotiating period, which arrives Monday. But they should have plenty of cap space to work with on the open market.

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Colts to host S Chris Edmonds for top-30 visit

The Colts are hosting Chris Edmonds for a top-30 visit.

The Indianapolis Colts will host Arizona State safety Chris Edmonds for a top-30 visit ahead of the 2024 NFL draft.

Edmonds did not attend the NFL Scouting Combine so this will give the Colts a chance to get a closer look at the big box safety. He spent the 2022-2023 collegiate season with Arizona State after transferring from Samford (2019-2021).

Listed at 6-foot-2 and 215 pounds, Edmonds profiles more as a box safety. In fact, he spent the majority of his snaps in that area of the field while also splitting time at deep safety and in the slot, according to Pro Football Focus.

His 26 defensive stops (PFF) were tied for 29th among all FBS safeties. Though he didn’t record an interception in 2023, he did nab three picks during the 2022 season.

The Colts have a need at the safety position so there’s a chance Edmonds will be on the team’s radar late in the draft.

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Jelani Woods looks like man on a mission in workout video

Jelani Woods shows off some real progress.

Indianapolis Colts tight end Jelani Woods lost the entire 2023 season dealing with nagging hamstring injuries, but he appears to be on track to making an impact in 2024.

His absence was nothing short of disappointing considering the explosiveness he brings to the offense. Not being able to see what he looked like in Shane Steichen’s offense was a major letdown.

But a workout video he posted Wednesday should give Colts fans a little hope that we’ll see him on the field in 2024.

The uber-athletic tight end posted some medicine ball workouts emphasizing explosiveness and body control. It’s easy to forget how mammoth of a person Woods is after not seeing him for an entire season.

Woods posted a 25-312-3 receiving line on 40 targets during his rookie season, showcasing some immense explosiveness despite a limited role.

The Colts are likely to address the tight end position one way or another during the 2024 offseason, but this development should bring a sliver of hope for Woods’ return after a long absence.

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Colts HC provides update on Anthony Richardson’s rehab

Anthony Richardson is ‘making great progress’

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson continues to work his way back from shoulder surgery that claimed the majority of his rookie season, and the updates seem all positive.

After missing the typical press conference at the NFL Scouting Combine due to an illness, head coach Shane Steichen met with the media Tuesday in order to make up for the absence.

Without going into great detail, as expected, Steichen offered some positive news on Richardson’s rehab program.

“He’s been doing a little bit of both. He’s been here (Indy), he’s been in Florida doing his rehab. But he’s making great progress. You guys have seen obviously through social media, he’s throwing,” Steichen said. “I’m not going to put a timetable on his return, but he’s in great spirits, feeling good. Obviously, going through stuff but he’s making really, really good progress.”

Whether Richardson will be ready for the start of the spring workouts in April remains to be seen. Steichen offered some hope that could be the case during the 2023 regular season, but a lot of time has passed since then.

The No. 4 overall pick from last year’s draft showed immense promise both as a passer and a runner despite the small sample size. He’s far from a finished product, but the fact that he didn’t look overwhelmed in the slightest is extremely encouraging.

The likelihood of having a strong supporting cast around him increased this week as well. The Colts used the franchise tag on top wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. with the expectation of signing a long-term deal.

“When you have a reliable player like Pitt (Michael Pittman Jr.) that is going to show up every Sunday and make plays like he does, it definitely helps a young quarterback,” said SteichenTo keep getting that chemistry with those two guys, building, will be huge for Anthony’s (Richardson) growth.”

The Colts won’t begin spring workouts until the middle of April, and the on-field work doesn’t come until after the 2024 NFL draft.

But it all seems positive for Richardson as he continues his rehab work ahead of a crucial second season.

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Colts place franchise tag on WR Michael Pittman Jr.

Michael Pittman Jr. has been franchise tagged.

The Indianapolis Colts applied the non-exclusive franchise tag on wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., first reported by Tom Pelissero of NFL Network on Tuesday. The team confirmed the news shortly afterward.

The deadline to apply the franchise tag was 4:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, which means the Colts had to make a decision if they failed to reach a long-term contract extension with their star wideout.

It seems the two sides couldn’t come to an agreement on a new deal, but the application of the franchise tag extends the window to negotiate further throughout the spring and summer.

The value of the franchise tag at wide receiver is $21,816,000 for the 2024 season.

Colts general manager Chris Ballard made it clear they want Pittman here for the long haul and that the 26-year-old will be a member of the team in 2024 regardless of whether it’s on a new contract or under the franchise tag.

The non-exclusive tag will allow Pittman to field offers from other teams. It also gives the Colts the chance to match or refuse any offer that is made. If the Colts refuse an offer made to Pittman by another team, and he agrees to that deal, the Colts would be compensated with two first-round picks.

The likelihood of a tag and trade scenario is unlikely unless both sides are on completely opposite ends of the spectrum.

There is mutual interest in keeping Pittman as a member of the Colts so this move is likely a tactic to extend the window of negotiations. Pittman doesn’t have to sign the franchise tag until the middle of July.

This is the first time since 2013 the Colts have used the franchise tag.

Pittman is coming off his best season in the NFL and has only gotten better with each season as a professional. He recorded 106 receptions for 1,152 yards during the 2023 season, both of which were career-high marks.

Despite working with seven different starting quarterbacks since entering the league in 2020, Pittman’s 3,662 receiving yards rank fifth among his peers in that draft class while his 336 receptions rank third behind only CeeDee Lamb (395) and Justin Jefferson (392).

In terms of Colts history, Pittman’s 336 receptions are the most in franchise history through a player’s first four seasons. He ranks third in receiving yards behind only T.Y. Hilton (4,413) and Marvin Harrison (4,141).

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Drew Ogletree’s domestic violence charges dismissed

The charges against Drew Ogletree have been dismissed.

The domestic violence charges against Indianapolis Colts tight end Andrew Ogletree were dismissed in Hendricks County on Tuesday.

Ogletree, who is currently on the Commissioner Exempt List, was arrested in December on two counts of domestic battery. However, prosecutors determined there was a lack of evidence after further investigation.

Ogletree’s attorney, Brian Hamilton, released the following statement after the charges were dismissed:

“Today, the State of Indiana filed an unconditional dismissal of all charges against Andrew Ogletree. While preliminary investigations may have led to an arrest, that was only the start of the investigation process. Law enforcement officials continued their investigation into the facts of this case, and after completing their review of the evidence, the Hendricks County Prosecutor dismissed the case.

Andrew has always maintained his innocence and he has been fully exonerated. Andrew would like to thank the Hendricks County Prosecutor’s Office and the Avon Police Department for their professionalism and their never-ending pursuit of the truth.

Additionally, Andrew deeply appreciates his family, friends and fans who stood by him during these proceedings. Finally, Andrew is forever grateful to his attorneys who believed in his innocence and fought tirelessly for today’s result.”

Ogletree was on the Commissioner’s Exempt List, which is essentially paid leave, following his arrest. Though the charges were dropped, the NFL is still expected to conduct its own investigation, which means Ogletree is likely to remain on the exempt list until that is concluded.

The Colts have a crowded tight end room, and they are expected to add to the position at some point throughout the offseason so it remains to be seen what will become of Ogletree’s future with the team.

Regardless, the dismissal of charges brings Ogletree one step closer to getting back onto the football field.

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