3 potential destinations for Josh Downs after Colts WR requests trade

Wide receiver Josh Downs reportedly wants out of Indianapolis. 

On Wednesday, Downs reportedly requested a trade from the Indianapolis Colts. After the AFC South team dealt guard Quenton Nelson (Seattle Seahawks) and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (San Francisco 49ers) on Tuesday, Downs could be gone before the NFL trade deadline on Nov. 10 at 4 p.m. ET. 

Downs — who has caught 224 passes for 2,447 yards and 11 touchdowns in four seasons with the Colts — will pique the interest of needy teams. Here are three that may explore trading for the pass-catcher. 

Kansas City Chiefs  

This one feels like a no-brainer. 

The Seahawks held Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker III to a season-low 36 yards on 14 carries in their 20-3 Week 7 win. The matchup exposed Kansas City's biggest offensive flaw: a lack of reliable targets for quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Against Seattle, he went 19-of-33, passing for a season-low 165 yards and one interception. 

The Chiefs (5-1) have clearly become over-reliant on Walker, who leads the NFL in yards per carry (5.8, 701 yards on 120 carries). Acquiring Downs, who has averaged a career-high 11.8 yards per reception (above league average) through seven games, would give Mahomes another pass-catcher who stretches the field and helps Kansas City avoid becoming a one-dimensional team. 

Pittsburgh Steelers 

Like the Chiefs, the Steelers (5-2) field an unbalanced offense. Through eight weeks, RB Jaylen Warren ranks second in the league in yards per carry (5.5, 561 yards on 102 carries). QB Aaron Rodgers, meanwhile, ranks 23rd among 33 eligible QBs in yards per attempt (6.5, 1,699 yards on 263 attempts). 

The Steelers feature two-time Pro Bowl WR DK Metcalf but need a slot WR to complement him. Lining up in the slot is one of Downs' specialties. Per Pro Football Focus, 69 percent of his 248 passing snaps in 2026 have been in the slot.   

Atlanta Falcons 

QB Michael Penix Jr., who earned NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors for Week 7 after throwing for 213 yards and three touchdowns in a 29-20 win over the 49ers, is beginning to roll. He may need one more weapon to reach the next level. 

Drake London — who has a team-leading 38 receptions and 616 of the squad's 1,479 receiving yards — is carrying the WR room. Adding Downs, who has 26 receptions for 307 yards, would lighten his heavy workload. 

An offensive core consisting of Penix, Downs, London and star RB Bijan Robinson could propel the Falcons (3-4) to an NFC South title.