Josh Downs Traded to Chiefs, New NFL Rumors Reveal Colts' Draft Pick Return Ahead of Deadline

The Kansas City Chiefs have taken advantage of the Indianapolis Colts' ongoing roster teardown by bolstering their receiving corps.

The Colts traded wideout Josh Downs to the Chiefs Tuesday in exchange for 2027 fourth- and fifth-round picks, according to The Ringer and Netflix's Tom Pelissero.

Downs is playing this season under a $4.2 million cap hit on his expiring rookie contract.

The 25-year-old wideout requested a trade from the Colts ahead of Week 8, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.

The Colts, which were 2-5 at the time, had already made their deadline position clear by trading Quenton Nelson and DeForest Buckner.

Indianapolis has since also traded Keenan Allen as part of the team's ongoing roster teardown.

Downs has served as the team's slot receiver amid the heel injury that has sidelined Alec Pierce for most of the season. While dealing with extra attention from opposing defenses in Pierce's absence, Downs recorded 33 catches for 354 yards and a touchdown in nine games prior to his trade.

The fourth-year wideout will hope leaving Indianapolis for a wide receiver room led by Travis Kelce, Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy will give him an opportunity to increase his production down the stretch of the season.

The biggest question for the Colts will now be what direction the franchise should take after dismissing former general manager Chris Ballard before reportedly turning down offers for Daniel Jones and Jonathan Taylor ahead of the deadline.

The Chiefs were looking to add wide receiver depth at the deadline after losing Rice and Tyquan Thornton to injury early in the season. The team has often leaned on Kenneth Walker III and their run game during the team's 6-2 start to the 2026 campaign.

Kansas City could hope the addition of Downs, the recent return of Rice and the eventual recovery of Thornton will take some pressure off Walker and bolster the depth around Mahomes in time for a playoff run this winter.