Breaking: Colts Set To Sign $96 Million Star In Proposed Blockbuster Trade
The Indianapolis Colts may lose wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. to free agency. But Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay suggested the Colts replacing Pittman with 2-time All-Pro Stefon Diggs.
On February 7, Kay proposed the Colts trade their No. 15 overall selection along with a 2024 fourth-round to the Buffalo Bills for Diggs.
“With Michael Pittman Jr. hitting free agency and due for a major contract extension, the Colts may want to have a contingency plan in place via a Diggs trade in case their incumbent No. 1 receiver walks,” wrote Kay.
“Even if Pittman remains in Indy, pairing him with Diggs would greatly elevate a passing attack that averaged just 215.6 yards per game and scored only 18 touchdowns through the air in 2023.”
Kay continued, calling Diggs, who signed a 4-year, $92 million contract in 2022, a “major upgrade” for the Colts wide receiver corps.
This isn’t the first time this offseason the Colts have been linked to a big-named, expensive receiver. On January 16, Bookies.com handicapper Adam Thompson placed the Colts as the second-favorite team to land Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown if he requested a trade.
Like Brown, Diggs would be a great asset for young quarterback Anthony Richardson. As he did in Buffalo, Diggs could help turn the Colts into a perennial contender.
In nine NFL seasons, Diggs has posted 810 receptions, 9,995 receiving yards and 67 touchdowns. He made first-team All-Pro in 2020 with a league-high 127 catches and 1,535 receiving yards.
However, the Colts acquiring Diggs through a trade is hardly a slam dunk to happen. Diggs, who is four years older than Pittman, is set to count as a $27.8 million cap hit in 2024. He’ll have a cap hit at least above $22.5 million through 2027.
With the trade, the Colts could rework Diggs’ contract. But as it stands, Diggs possesses an expensive deal for a receiver who is already 30 years old.
Trading for Diggs and re-signing Pittman is certainly appealing. But it would lock up a big chunk of the team’s $66.35 million salary cap space to one position.
Those two moves would also limit opportunities for 2022 second-round pick Alec Pierce and 2023 third-rounder Josh Downs. The Colts would have to be convinced neither Pierce nor Downs will become an elite receiver before trading for Diggs. Acquiring Diggs would be a blockbuster deal — one that’s fun to talk about in the offseason. But it likely remains a long shot to happen in reality.
“Not Right To Expect Staff Clean Up” – Colts QB Anthony Richardson Bused Tables Following 2023 Rookie Orientation Dinner
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson made headlines last year when it was revealed that he voluntarily helped clean up the mess left after the rookie orientation dinner.
The story, shared by Jake Query of 1075 The Fan, was recounted by an attendee at the Indiana Sports Corp luncheon.
According to the story, Anthony Richardson stayed behind after the dinner, even after all potential draftees had left, to bus tables and tidy up the room before the staff returned.
However, Troy Vincent, the NFL’s executive vice president of football operations approached Richardson telling him he didn’t need to do it. To which, Richardson responded, stating that it wasn’t right to leave the room in such a condition for the staff to clean up, expressing his desire to help.
“We left this room in an unacceptable condition and it is not right for us to expect the staff to clean it all up. I’d like to stay and help,” said the rookie QB.
ESPN recently brought this story back into the spotlight by posting on Instagram.
Richardson was drafted in the first round by the Colts with the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
In his rookie season, Richardson faced ups and downs. He earned the starting quarterback position for the Colts over Gardner Minshew and Sam Ehlinger, making his NFL debut in Week 1 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Despite a loss, Richardson threw his first touchdown pass and ran for a touchdown. In Week 2 against the Houston Texans, he ran for two touchdowns but left the game with a concussion.
After missing Week 3 due to the concussion, Richardson returned in Week 4 against the Los Angeles Rams, making history by scoring a rushing touchdown in each of his first three starts.
However, his rookie season took a turn when he was placed on injured reserve in October due to a grade three AC joint sprain suffered in Week 5. The Colts later announced he would miss the remainder of the season, and Richardson successfully underwent shoulder surgery in late October 2023.
