The Indianapolis Colts are actively trading players ahead of the deadline following the firing of general manager Chris Ballard, with wide receiver Josh Downs now requesting a trade. Downs is in the final year of his rookie contract and has drawn interest from multiple teams as the Colts enter a rebuilding phase.
Josh Downs’ Performance and Career Stats
Downs has recorded 26 receptions for a team-high 307 yards and zero touchdowns across seven games this season. He has shared the passing workload with Keenan Allen and tight end Tyler Warren while Alec Pierce recovers from an ankle injury.
Selected by Indianapolis in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft out of North Carolina, Downs has accumulated 1,964 receiving yards from the slot, ranking second in the NFL since his drafting behind Amon-Ra St. Brown of the Detroit Lions, according to CBS Sports Research. His standout year came in 2024 with a career-high 72 catches for 803 yards and five touchdowns, bringing his career totals to 224 receptions, 2,447 yards, and 11 touchdowns in 54 games.
Potential Trade Destinations
As Downs seeks a departure from Indianapolis, several NFL teams emerge as potential landing spots.
The Los Angeles Rams sit at 3-4 amid mounting injuries, including Davante Adams landing on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. With only Puka Nacua and Konata Mumpfield catching passes in their Week 7 win against the Las Vegas Raiders, adding Downs would provide support for Matthew Stafford’s passing offense.
The New England Patriots offer a potential reunion with quarterback Drake Maye, with whom Downs led the Tar Heels in 2022 by catching 94 passes for 1,029 yards and 11 touchdowns. New England features a top-10 passing attack, but Romeo Doubs is on injured reserve and A.J. Brown is working his way back from a high ankle sprain.
The Atlanta Falcons could bolster their offense around Michael Penix Jr., who recently helped upset the San Francisco 49ers. While Drake London leads the team with 38 catches for 616 yards and one touchdown, free-agent addition Jahan Dotson has only 12 receptions and Zachariah Branch has 10 through seven weeks.
The Kansas City Chiefs need offensive reinforcements following a 20-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks where the offense generated no explosive plays or red-zone trips. Rashee Rice is sidelined with a hamstring injury, Xavier Worthy has caught 24 passes for 217 yards and a touchdown, Tyquan Thornton is on injured reserve, and 37-year-old Travis Kelce currently leads the team in receiving.
The Las Vegas Raiders feature a wide receiver room consisting of Tre Tucker alongside Cody White, Jalen Nailor, Jack Bech, and Dareke Young, none of whom have exceeded 115 receiving yards through seven weeks. Downs could provide an immediate contributor for Kirk Cousins and a long-term receiving option for an organization that has struggled to draft at the position.
Downs addressed the trade rumors in the Colts locker room on Wednesday by telling reporters that he is currently focused on the present moment and whatever comes his way.
