Travis Kelce Reacts to Josh Downs Trade, '100% Made' Chiefs Better After NFL Deadline

Travis Kelce approved of the Kansas City Chiefs' trade deadline maneuvering.

The Chiefs' trade for former Indianapolis Colts wideout Josh Downs could help the team expose defenses that are focused on stopping star running back Kenneth Walker III, Kelce said around the 26:30 mark of Wednesday's episode of his New Heights podcast.

"Man to man coverage, that's going to come up more than you think down the line," Kelce said. "When things get tight in the NFL, man coverage is what defensive coordinators go to. And when you've got a guy that you can trust in those kind of situations— and on top of that, I feel like in the middle of the field, he feels the zone coverages and what defensive voids, he's very good in all of that.

"And just to get another fast guy, another focal point for the defense to have to worry about in terms of run game, and having to relate the right way, and things like that, it 100 percent made our offense better."

The Chiefs sent 2027 fourth- and fifth-round picks to the Colts and acquired a 2027 seventh-rounder while trading for Downs ahead of Tuesday's deadline.

Kelce wasn't the only member of the Chiefs to express appreciation for the trade. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes seemingly celebrated on social media shortly after the deal was finalized.

Downs requested a trade from the Colts last month partly because he knew "he had the potential to play alongside Mahomes and the rest of the Chiefs' stars on offense," ESPN's Nate Taylor reported.

He should add some speed to a Chiefs receiving corps that has been functioning without Tyquan Thornton, who suffered a significant ankle injury in early October that is expected to sideline him indefinitely.

The Chiefs are next scheduled to play Sunday against an Atlanta Falcons defense that ranked 20th in the NFL in passing yards before trading safety Jessie Bates III to the Jacksonville Jaguars.