INDIANAPOLIS — The Colts are keeping Michael Pittman Jr. this season.

One way or another.

Indianapolis general manager Chris Ballard danced around the details of the Pittman contract discussions for the better part of his half-hour availability at the NFL scouting combine on Wednesday.

By the end of his press conference, Ballard acknowledged definitively that Pittman will remain a Colt when the season begins in September.

The only question is how the two sides get there.

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Ballard has already been in talks with Pittman’s agent, Andrew Kessler, about a long-term extension, and the Colts general manager indicated Wednesday that he prefers to sign his No. 1 wide receiver to a deal before the franchise tag deadline arrives.

Indianapolis can place the franchise tag on Pittman at any time before 4 p.m. on March 5, a move that offers Pittman a one-year salary at $21.816 million, although it would restrict the wide receiver from talking to any other team in free agency.

“We’ll work hard to get a deal done,” Ballard said. “It’s a tool we have. I’m not going to say we’re not going to use it, but I’m not going to say we are. Hopefully, we can come to an agreement and find some compromise on a deal.”

The Colts have not placed the franchise tag on a player since former punter Pat McAfee in 2013, the second-longest streak in the NFL.

But Pittman represents a challenge because of the way the wide receiver market has skyrocketed in recent seasons. Eight wide receivers are now making at least $23 million per year, another five are making $20 million per year and at least one more, Cincinnati’s Tee Higgins, will top the mark after being handed the franchise tag by the Bengals.

Pittman is well aware of his worth.

The clear No. 1 target for the Colts the past three seasons, Pittman has averaged 98.7 catches and 1,053 yards over that span.

“I’ve loved my four years here, but I wouldn’t be doing my due diligence if I didn’t explore every option and find the best fit,” Pittman said. “I think we want to get a sense of what’s out there.”

The Colts likewise have little reason to let Pittman reach free agency.

Indianapolis does not have an obvious replacement on the roster, faces few options on the open market and needs to surround young starting quarterback Anthony Richardson with reliable weapons.

“You want to put enough good players around him to be successful,” Ballard said Wednesday.

The good news is that Pittman understands the mechanics of the NFL’s contract process better than most players.

Pittman understands the purpose of the franchise tag, and while that doesn’t guarantee that he won’t exercise some of the leverage a tagged player can use to get a long-term deal, the Colts wide receiver has already indicated he understands the purpose of the franchise tag.

“The franchise tag is almost like a tag of respect, to get paid in the top five at your position,” Pittman said in January. “I wouldn’t say, necessarily, no, I do not want to play on the tag, but you can use that to work toward a long-term deal.”

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Pittman also might be the perfect receiver for Ballard.

“The one thing you never have to worry about with that guy is he empties the tank,” Ballard said. “He absolutely empties the tank.”

From the way Pittman plays, one of the few receivers who plays with a true mean streak, to the way he handles himself in the locker room, he’s a dream for Ballard.

“We have an interesting relationship, and one that’s really good, but it is no-doubt honest, blunt honest,” Ballard said. “Which I like.”

Ballard values honesty.

He also values Pittman’s hard-nosed approach.

Which is why it did not bother him that Pittman briefly expressed frustration with a lack of targets after the Colts’ loss to Cleveland in October, comments Pittman later walked back, saying he made them in the heat of the moment.

“He cares about winning,” Ballard said. “He wants to win. And when you’re a good player, part of that is you want the football. I don’t know if I want to be around a guy that doesn’t want the ball. That’s OK, and it’s OK to show your personality, and it’s OK to demand it.”

Pittman’s desires and demands right now center around landing the type of contract he can get on the open market.

From the sounds of it, the Colts want to be the team that gives it to him.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts are keeping Michael Pittman Jr., one way or another