Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman received his first big-time extension this offseason.
It's only natural at the start of training camp that he feels it's time to take the next leap in his career.
"I'm chasing respect," Pittman said at his Wednesday news conference. “The whole thing that comes with being an older guy, it's like I'm known now, but I need to get to that next level and reach that next tier. I think that starts with probably more touchdowns, too. In my career, I haven’t been a big touchdown guy. That’s something that I’m really gonna focus on. So that’s my first step, and then once we get that going, we’ll start looking in other directions.”
Through four seasons, Pittman has become recognized as a dependable possession receiver capable of serving as a best friend and safety net for any quarterback, but he's not necessarily brushed shoulders with the league's most elite pass catchers.
While he's still being paid handsomely at $23.3 million per year over the next three years, his placing 12th among top-paid wideouts is a reflection of that. In the next couple seasons, that deal could look like even more of a bargain for Indianapolis, especially if Pittman elevates as he hopes.
Pittman has led the Colts in receptions, yards and touchdowns in each of the past three seasons, with 2023 marking career highs in catches (109) and receiving yardage (1,152).
But even as he's paced Indy in TD catches, he's right to target that area of his game. He's caught just four apiece in the last two seasons after hitting a high-water mark of six in 2021. He's moved the chains to get the offense down to the red zone, responsible for 50-plus first downs in three consecutive campaigns, but to jump into the top tier he'll need to more often be the one to finish off drives, as well.
Those TDs are his main focus, but Pittman also has a goal of increasing his yardage. He broke down his WR tiers into 1,000 yards, 1,200 yards and, at the very top, 1,400 or more yards in a season. His aforementioned career high still only slots him into that third level.
To accomplish all that he wants, it'll take building chemistry with Anthony Richardson, who appears primed to end the Colts' QB carousel as long as he can stay healthy.
“He’s just more comfortable," Pittman said of Richardson heading into his second season. "Obviously, he’s been around more. He knows everybody. He’s kind of naturally, like, I don’t want to say reserved, but he’s not a guy that wants to get up in front and yell around, so that's just his personality. He leads by example, but now he knows everybody, so he feels he can speak more confidently, and like I've also been kind of forcing him into those roles."
With any luck, the two can grow together, and the Colts can keep growing their championship aspirations along with them.