Steelers Acquire WR Michael Pittman Jr. from Colts

NFL analysts debate whether the Steelers or Colts won the trade

Mar. 21, 2026 at 12:18am

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The Pittsburgh Steelers have acquired wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. from the Indianapolis Colts in a late-round pick swap. The Steelers are also signing Pittman to a new three-year, $59 million extension. NFL analysts have mixed opinions on whether the Steelers or Colts came out ahead in the trade, with some giving the Steelers the edge and others favoring the Colts.

Why it matters

This trade represents an important offseason move for both the Steelers and Colts as they look to shape their rosters for the upcoming NFL season. The debate over who won the trade highlights the complexities involved in evaluating player transactions in the NFL.

The details

The Steelers acquired Pittman, a starting wide receiver, from the Colts in exchange for a late-round draft pick. The Colts were looking to shed Pittman's $24 million salary for 2026, especially after signing Alec Pierce to a lucrative four-year, $116 million deal to be their new WR1. The Steelers, meanwhile, see Pittman as a valuable addition to pair with DK Metcalf in their receiving corps and have signed him to a new three-year, $59 million extension.

  • The trade occurred during the 2026 NFL free agency period in mid-March.

The players

Michael Pittman Jr.

A wide receiver who was previously with the Indianapolis Colts.

Alec Pierce

A wide receiver who the Colts signed to a four-year, $116 million deal, making him the highest-paid wide receiver in free agency history.

DK Metcalf

A wide receiver who plays for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

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What they’re saying

“This NFL offseason has already been a wild one, as we witnessed an uptick in trades during free agency. Certain teams were looking to shed salary in order to get under the set cap number, while other teams were looking to buy talent ahead of the free agency firestorm.”

— Jordan Dajani, CBS Sports Writer

“Why did the Colts make this trade? Pittman was slated to make $24 million in 2026, and I imagine they didn't think he was worth that -- especially considering they're giving Alec Pierce a bump to $29 million per year to bring him back.”

— Seth Walder, ESPN Analyst

What’s next

The Steelers will look to integrate Pittman into their offense and see how he performs alongside DK Metcalf, while the Colts will aim to get strong production from their new top receiver, Alec Pierce.

The takeaway

This trade highlights the complex financial and roster-building decisions teams must make in the NFL offseason. Both the Steelers and Colts believe they came out ahead, but the true winner of the trade may not be known until the 2026 season unfolds.