Colts Grant Josh Downs’ Request In Trade To Chiefs For 2027 4th, 5th-round Picks

The Indianapolis Colts continued to dismantle their roster until the final hour of Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline, sending slot receiver Josh Downs, along with a seventh-round pick to the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for a fourth and fifth-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. The aggressive fire sale marks the fourth trade the Colts have made to begin the rebuild during this disastrous campaign.

Indianapolis granted Downs’ request and traded away a second starting receiver, along with Keenan Allen to the San Francisco 49ers, with intentions to stack as much draft capital as possible. The 25-year-old receiver made his request public in October, signaling that he was ready to leave Indy. The Colts did all four former players a solid by sending them to active contenders and it’s fair compensation rather than losing Downs for nothing in free agency.

Downs’ trade request came after weeks of frustration, while Indianapolis continued to sell off cornerstone pieces of its roster. In fact, each of the last four losses have prompted the organization to make a move. From the firing of GM Chris Ballard after the Titans loss, to the trades of two cornerstone captains on the front line after the Vikings loss, to the pair of starting receivers who were traded in the final hour before the deadline.

In Sunday’s 27-23 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, Downs looked disengaged on the field and had two noticeable drops. It was a tough performance for a receiver on a contract year, knowing his final curtain call with the Colts was three catches for 24 receiving yards. Downs has collected just 33 catches for 354 receiving yards and one touchdown in nine games this season. 

Indianapolis selected Downs in the third round (79th overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft. The North Carolina product instantly established himself as one of Indianapolis’ most dependable targets, fetching 68 receptions for 771 yards and two touchdowns as a rookie. He made clear improvements in his second season and notably had the best footwork among the receiver corps throughout training camp. Downs improved with 72 catches for 803 yards and five touchdowns in his sophomore campaign.

However, his production has steadily declined since Daniel Jones became the Colts starting quarterback. Downs endured a slight increase in drops during the 2025 season and recorded 58 receptions for 566 yards and four touchdowns. It looked bright out the gate as Downs started off the opening drive of the 2026 season with nearly 40 receiving yards, but has been held in check in essentially every game since October. 

Kansas City was desperate to add another weapon for franchise quarterback Patrick Mahomes II. The Chiefs aimed to acquire a young, talented receiver with a proven ability to create separation out of the slot. With injuries to Xavier Worthy (hamstring), and Tyquan Thorton (ankle) out on IR, Downs joins a receiver corps that features Rashee Rice, Jalen Royals and Nikko Remigio.

Two weeks ago, the Colts traded All-Pro left guard Quenton Nelson to Seattle, then sent All-Pro defensive tackle DeForest Buckner back to San Francisco. On Tuesday, Indianapolis sent veteran receiver Keenan Allen to San Francisco for a 2027 sixth-rounder, then Downs became the fourth player shipped out of Indianapolis to stock more draft capital.

Firing the GM of nearly a decade and trading away four starters in the span of three weeks is another reminder that the focus has entirely shifted toward the future. Downs wanted no part of what that future looked like in Indianapolis, so it was best to find a willing trade partner in the Chiefs.