The Indianapolis Colts traded Josh Downs to the Kansas City Chiefs on Tuesday, sending the 25-year-old receiver to a new team just as Kansas City continues looking for more production at wideout. Downs also posted a GIF on social media after the deal and thanked the Colts for his time in Indianapolis.
The Colts received 2027 fourth- and fifth-round picks in return, while Kansas City also got a 2027 seventh-round pick in the move. It is another notable roster shift for Indianapolis, which had already traded Quenton Nelson and DeForest Buckner in October before moving Downs.
What Downs brings to Kansas City
Downs gives the Chiefs a player with a solid early-career résumé and some flexibility in the passing game. In 54 career games, he has 224 receptions for 2,447 yards and 11 touchdowns. He was selected by the Colts in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft out of North Carolina.
This season, Downs had 33 catches for 354 yards in nine games. That level of production stands out for a Chiefs offense that has not gotten much from the receiver room this year, with Rashee Rice leading the group at 292 receiving yards.
Downs may also have value on special teams. He has handled punt returns, which could matter after the Chiefs waived Nikko Remigio. That gives Kansas City another possible way to use him while the team sorts out its depth chart.
What comes next
Downs is scheduled to make his first game with the Chiefs on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET against the Atlanta Falcons. For Kansas City, the trade is a clear attempt to add another useful pass-catching option. For Downs, it is a fresh start after a productive run in Indianapolis and a move he seemed to welcome.
