The Pittsburgh Steelers knew they couldn’t enter the 2026 season without making changes to the wide receiver room, so they immediately addressed things on Monday, trading with the Indianapolis Colts for Michael Pittman Jr. The two teams swapped late-round picks to get the deal done, and the Steelers now have a wide receiver no. 2 to pair with DK Metcalf.
Pittman had one year left on his contract, so after agreeing to a trade, Pittsburgh has extended the wideout to a three-year deal worth $59 million. So instead of entering free agency next offseason, the Steelers now have the receiver under contract through the 2029 season.
Steelers are signing their new WR Michael Pittman to a three-year, $59 million deal. https://t.co/E9xOdfDOfB
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 9, 2026
Steelers trade for Michael Pittman Jr. and extend him to three-year deal
Pittman was drafted by the Colts in the second round of the 2020 Draft, and emerged as the teams no. 1 wideout during his tenure. After 503 receiving yards as a rookie, the receiver posted over 900 receiving yards in his next three seasons — surpassing 1000 yards twice. He’s most recently coming off a 2025 season where he played in all 17 games, catching 80 receptions for 784 yards and seven touchdowns.
That production now heads to Pittsburgh, a team that desperately needs help at wide receiver. In 2025, Pittsburgh’s seven receivers combined for just 1,716 receiving yards. Metcalf led the group with 850 yards, and running back Kenneth Gainwell, who’s expected to leave in free agency, and tight end Pat Freiermuth were next in line with 486 each. The next receiver on the list was Calvin Austin III, with just 372 yards.
It’s hard to consistently produce on offense when a unit isn’t getting much production from the wide receiver room. The addition of Pittman will change that. Additionally, the veteran wideout is a tough receiver who is a willing blocker, and also isn’t afraid to go across the middle to make a catch. For those reasons, he will fit right in in Pittsburgh.
The only question now is, who will be throwing Pittman and company the ball. With the Mike McCarthy era getting started in Pittsburgh, finding a quarterback is the biggest remaining priority for the offseason.