Chiefs Announce Trade For Josh Downs, Cut Two

Downs, 25, was a two-year starter at North Carolina and earned first-team All-ACC honors in 2021 and 2022. He declared for the 2023 NFL Draft after his junior season. 

The Colts drafted Downs in the third round with the No. 79 overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft. He was in the final year of a four-year, $5,520,458 rookie contract that included a $1,014,879 signing bonus when the Colts traded him to the Chiefs for fourth and fifth-round picks. 

In 2026, Downs has appeared in nine games for the Colts, recording 33 receptions on 57 targets for 354 yards (11.0 YPC) and a touchdown.