The Indianapolis Colts have high hopes for rookie wide receiver Josh Downs, who will have a chance to compete for a significant role in Shane Steichen’s offense immediately.
Selected in the third round of the 2023 NFL draft, Downs slipped a bit likely due to size concerns considering he measured in at 5-foot-9 and 171 pounds. However, the Colts are confident he can make a major impact.
CBS Sports agrees given they listed him as the team’s biggest non-Round 1 sleeper from the draft class.
Indianapolis Colts
WR Josh Downs
Drafted: No. 79, third round
Impressive stat to know: 195 receptions in his final two seasons at North CarolinaDowns will be the extension of Indianapolis’ run game in 2023. Particularly with Shane Steichen calling the plays and a rookie quarterback in the shotgun. Steichen was part of the coaching staff that provided Justin Herbert with plenty of easy, schemed-open targets in his rookie season of 2020 then followed by being part of the staff that constructed a cozy environment for Jalen Hurts in 2021. Downs will be the main recipient of Steichen’s RPO game and receiver screens of every variety. He’s ultra quick and has sneaky explosiveness. Plus, he tracks the football like he’s 6-foot-2.
Downs’ size may be a bit of question mark, but don’t let that fool you. He plays bigger than most of the wide receivers coming out of the 2023 class, and he has crafty route running skills to go along with exceptionally reliable hands.
The selection of Downs was solid regardless considering the value at No. 79 overall, but it also helps the development of rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson. Having a reliable target getting open consistently as Downs does in the short-to-intermediate part of the field should help Richardson improve in that area.
Downs has missed a great chunk of OTAs due to a knee injury so the hope is he can get back on the field for mandatory minicamp next week.
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