The Indianapolis Colts brought in a shift and explosive talent to go along with their rookie quarterback by selecting wide receiver Josh Downs in the third round of the 2023 NFL draft.
Downs, a true junior, brings an elite production profile, enticing athleticism and a skill set that is rare on the Colts roster.
Starting with the positives, Downs is one of the best route runners in this class. He understands how to vary his tempo on routes, and he’s incredibly explosive coming out of his breaks. He ran a diverse, NFL route tree at Chapel Hill so he’s now the raw receiver type we’re used to seeing Chris Ballard draft.
Downs is a shifty player who beats man coverage with consistency and understands how to find soft spots in a zone. He catches nearly everything thrown his way, evidenced by his 101 and 94 reception marks over the last two seasons.
Despite his size, Downs has that dawg in him. He’s unafraid to win at the catch point and is one of the best contested catch receivers in this class. He plays much bigger than his height and weight at the catch point.
The size, however, is a red flag. It’s likely the reason he fell to the third round. At 5-foot-9 and 171 pounds, the ceiling is capped if we’re just looking at historical comparisons. While the Colts believe he can play on the boundary, it will be best to keep him in a role that features free released away from press coverage.
It’s not that Downs can’t beat press coverage—he showed flashes of doing so in college—but it’s more that he hasn’t had a lot of experience against it. With Michael Pittman Jr. and Alec Pierce on the outside, why not take advantage of his shifty route running ability and reliable hands in the slot?
Overall, this was a very nice pick at a spot where the Colts needed to add a starting-caliber player. Downs can provide the shifty, underneath targets necessary on third downs, but he also has shown the ability to win downfield. It wouldn’t be a surprise at all if he’s the starting slot receiver in Week 1.
Grade: B+
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