After a long wait on Tuesday, trade news finally broke for the Kansas City Chiefs at the position we all anticipated: wide receiver.
According to NFL Insider Tom Pelissero, the Chiefs struck a deal with the Indianapolis
Colts to acquire Josh Downs, a fourth-year receiver with 2,494 career receiving yards and 12 touchdowns to his name. The 25-year-old wideout is in the final year of his original rookie deal after being selected in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
The Chiefs are sending “a 2027 fourth-round pick and fifth-round picks” to the Colts for Downs and a 2027 seventh-round pick.
Downs is just the latest Colts player to be traded in a lost season for Indianapolis; the team also traded away starters in defensive lineman DeForest Buckner, left guard Quenton Nelson, and receiver Keenan Allen.
Kansas City will welcome Downs after he led the Colts’ offense in receiving yards (354) in the first nine weeks while playing 80% of the snaps. Keenan Allen (40) had more receptions for Indianapolis, but Downs tied him for touchdowns (1) and first downs (20).
Downs has a career-low catch rate of 58% this season and has been faulted with four drops, according to Pro Football Focus, but that didn’t seem to be an issue in Week 2 against the Chiefs. In the overtime finish, Downs gashed Kansas City’s secondary with seven catches for 72 yards on nine targets.
He has primarily been a slot receiver throughout his career in Indianapolis; this season, he has lined up as a slot receiver on 70% of his pass plays, per PFF.
The Chiefs will insert him into the receiver rotation that features Rashee Rice (50% of his snaps in the slot) and Cyrus Allen (53%) as current options out of the slot; Xavier Worthy — who tweaked his hamstring just before the end of the Week 9 game — has played over 70% on the outside.
Does this transaction move the needle for you on whether the Chiefs are a Super Bowl contender this season? Let us know in the comments.
