The Colts kept moving at the deadline, and this time the name on the way out was Josh Downs.
On Tuesday, just minutes before the trade deadline, Indianapolis sent the 25-year-old wide receiver to the Chiefs. Downs had recently made it clear he was open to a fresh start, and the Colts moved him along with a 7th round pick. In return, they’re reportedly getting a 4th and a 5th round selection back.
For a player on an expiring contract, that’s a strong haul.
It also pushes the Colts’ expected 2027 draft total to 11 picks, with nine of those coming in the first five rounds. That won’t erase what Indianapolis gave up in the Sauce Gardner deal, but it does give the franchise more ammunition as it tries to stockpile resources for the rebuild ahead.
Downs and the Colts never reached a contract extension before the final year of his rookie deal, and he was apparently comfortable with that setup. His future in Indianapolis was already hanging in the balance entering the 2026 season.
The move leaves wide receiver as a major 2027 need for the Colts, even if Alec Pierce returns to pristine health. Downs wasn’t the top target in the room, but he was a dependable slot presence and a useful complement to Michael Pittman Jr. and Pierce.
It also adds another ugly chapter to the story of the Colts’ 2023 draft. After a 4-win season in 2022, that draft class was supposed to help lay the foundation for a retooling roster, with Chris Ballard retained and Shane Steichen taking over as head coach.
Instead, it has thinned out fast. Of the 12 players selected in that class, only Anthony Richardson, Adetomiwa Adebawore and Will Mallory remain as their rookie contracts near the finish line.
The Colts’ recent trade run has been busy. Quenton Nelson went to Seattle for a 3rd round pick in 2027 and a 5th round pick in 2028.
DeForest Buckner was dealt to San Francisco for a 4th round pick in 2027. Keenan Allen also went to San Francisco for a 6th round pick in 2027.
Now Downs is headed to Kansas City, and Indianapolis is adding another pair of future picks to the pile.
Current Colts 2027 draft picks:
- Round 2
- Round 3
- Round 3 (from Seattle)
- Round 4
- Round 4 (from San Francisco)
- Round 4 (from Kansas City)
- Round 5
- Round 5 (from Kansas City)
- Round 5 (expected compensatory pick)
- Round 6 (from San Francisco)
- Round 6 (expected compensatory pick)
That total does not include the 2028 5th round pick the Colts received in the Nelson trade.
In Other News...
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For Indianapolis, the wrinkle is less about what Minnesota wants than what it might try to pry loose. The Colts have already made clear they are not interested in dealing Jones, while the Raiders have shown no appetite to move Cousins, but the Vikings may keep pressing anyway as they sift through options. For a team trying to manage its own quarterback situation, that kind of external demand can turn a quiet week into one worth watching. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Took Heat After Barely Escaping The Colts
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Schottenheimer did not dismiss the issues, pointing to the penalties and the need for the team to learn how to finish games. For Indianapolis, the result still stings because it was there to be taken, and the way Dallas escaped only sharpened the questions around how the Colts matched up against a team that now turns its attention to San Francisco. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Loss Still Left Indianapolis With A Few Reasons To Watch
The Colts latest loss dropped Indianapolis to 2-7 and officially shut the door on any realistic playoff path, but it still offered a few things worth filing away for the stretch run. Even in a season that has gone sideways, there are individual performances that can help shape what the team looks like next, and this game gave the staff a clearer look at a few players who made their presence felt.
Ashton Dulin, Spencer Shrader, Laiatu Latu and CJ Allen all stood out in different ways, giving the Colts some on-field positives to balance out the result. Dulin provided a spark in the passing game, Shrader kept contributing in the kicking game, and Latu and Allen each showed the kind of disruptive play the Colts can build on as they try to salvage something meaningful from the final weeks. [Read more 🡒]