Michael Pittman Jr mentioned as Colts weigh Daniel Jones at $37.833 million tender
The Indianapolis Colts placed a $37. 833 million transition tag on quarterback Daniel Jones before last Tuesday’s deadline, a move that kept him tied to the team as NFL free agency negotiations opened Monday at noon. In the same discussion of roster planning, michael pittman jr was listed among the skill-position players already on hand in Indianapolis.
Daniel Jones and the Colts’ $50 million counteroffer standoff
An initial Colts offer to Daniel Jones was described as being in the range of Sam Darnold’s three-year, $100. 5 million deal from last offseason, but Jones’s camp countered with a proposed contract worth $50 million per year. Rather than applying a franchise tag to Jones, the Colts used the transition tag, setting the one-year tender at $37. 833 million and allowing Jones to negotiate with other teams.
The franchise tag figure for quarterbacks in 2026 was listed at $43. 895 million, while the transition tag applied to Jones was $37. 833 million. With the transition tag in place, Jones can negotiate offer sheets with other teams, and if he agrees to one, the Colts would have five days to match it and keep him in Indianapolis.
Michael Pittman Jr included in Colts’ skill-group plan with Pierce
In outlining why a faster deal could matter, the roster around Jones was framed as already featuring Jonathan Taylor, michael pittman jr, Tyler Warren and Josh Downs, with wide receiver Alec Pierce referenced as a player the Colts could bring back into that group. Pierce later announced at a Monday, March 9 12: 30 update that he agreed to re-sign with the Colts on The Pat McAfee Show.
Pierce was described as 25 years old and coming off a year in which he surpassed 1, 000 receiving yards for the first time in his career. He also led the league in yards per catch at 21. 3 for the second consecutive year, details highlighted as part of the team’s planning while Jones’s contract situation remains unresolved.
March 9 negotiating window, plus Blake Grupe’s 2025 accuracy
The first phase of NFL free agency began Monday at noon, with contracts unable to become official until after 4 p. m. Wednesday, the start of the new league year. Just before free agency opened Monday, the Colts also re-signed kicker Blake Grupe, who made all 11 of his field goals and all 10 of his PATs over five games with Indianapolis in 2025.
Grupe’s 2025 stint included a franchise-record 60-yard field goal against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 15. Alongside the Pierce agreement and the transition tag on Jones, the team noted it would monitor several other unrestricted free agents during the week.
The next clock point arrives at 4 p. m. Wednesday, when the new league year begins and deals can become official after the Monday-at-noon negotiating period. If Jones signs an offer sheet with another team during this window, the Colts would have five days to match that offer to keep him in Indianapolis.
