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INDIANAPOLIS -- Colts general manager Chris Ballard offered a succinct but bold prediction when asked Wednesday at the NFL scouting combine whether impending free agent receiver Michael Pittman Jr. will be on the roster next season.
"Yes," Ballard said, without a hint of hesitation.
It was a meaningful, if brief, reply to a critical question facing Indianapolis. The Colts' top wideout the past three seasons, Pittman is set to become a free agent in the coming weeks after playing out his rookie contract.
But given Pittman's preference to test the open market, the only way of truly ensuring Pittman remains on the roster for the 2024 season is to utilize the franchise tag on the 2020 second-round pick.