The Pittsburgh Steelers have been tied to plenty of trade rumors over the past few weeks. One such piece of speculation has tied the team to potential wide receiver target Josh Downs of the Indianapolis Colts. However, the trade talk begs the question: How much would it cost the Steelers to acquire Downs? That's what we at Steelers Wire will attempt to predict.
A trade for Downs, who is in the final year of his contract, could look similar to last year's Jakobi Meyers deal, in which the Jacksonville Jaguars gave up Day 3 draft capital for a talented veteran wide receiver on an expiring contract. With Downs set to hit free agency in 2027, it's hard to imagine any team being willing to part with a Day 2 pick. Considering reports that the Steelers
and other interested teams have offered Day 3 value, we believe a similar deal could be the most realistic outcome.
Steelers receive:
- WR Josh Downs
Colts receive:
- 2027 Fourth-round draft pick
- 2027 seventh-round draft pick (from Miami Dolphins)
Why it makes sense
It's no secret: The Colts are in a massive roster fire sale just a week out from the November 10 trade deadline. Downs has already requested a trade from Indianapolis, and it's highly likely the team will respect his decision. Additionally, the Steelers were one of the teams reportedly interested in acquiring Downs. A fourth-round pick plus a late Day 3 selection seems more than justified to bring Downs into the Aaron Rodgers-led offense.
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This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Predicting the Steelers' potential trade for Colts WR Josh Downs
