Downs is in the final year of his rookie deal and drawing trade interest
Oct 28, 2026 at 12:39 pm ET • 1 min read
The Indianapolis Colts have been busy this week, selling notable pieces ahead of the trade deadline, including offensive guard Quenton Nelson and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, following the firing of general manager Chris Ballard. The NFL world has now turned its attention to running back Jonathan Taylor as the next Colt that could be dealt, but there's another weapon to watch in Indy.
Wide receiver Josh Downs has requested a trade, per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. Downs is in the final year of his rookie deal and has reportedly fetched interest from multiple teams. With the Colts rebuilding, he seems to want out now.
Downs has caught 26 passes for a team-high 307 yards and zero touchdowns in seven games this season. He and Keenan Allen, along with tight end Tyler Warren, have been shouldering the load in the passing game with Alec Pierce sidelined by an ankle injury.
The North Carolina product was selected by the Colts in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Downs' 1,964 receiving yards from the slot since he was drafted rank second in the NFL, trailing only Amon-Ra St. Brown of the Detroit Lions, per CBS Sports Research. Downs' best season came in 2024, when he caught a career-high 72 passes for 803 yards and five touchdowns. In 54 career games played, he's caught 224 passes for 2,447 yards and 11 touchdowns.
