On Tuesday, the Indianapolis Colts kicked off a significant trading period by offloading Quenton Nelson and DeForest Buckner as the NFL trade deadline approached.
And, it seems, they might not be finished just yet.
Wednesday morning saw wide receiver Josh Downs request a trade, and it appears he could attract numerous interested teams.
Here are five teams that might consider making a move.
When the Colts made those trades, sending Nelson to the Seattle Seahawks and Buckner to the San Francisco 49ers, it sparked online chatter about additional moves, with Downs being one of the names mentioned.
The Kansas City Chiefs quickly became associated with Downs.
This connection makes quite a bit of sense. Despite their recent loss to Seattle, the Chiefs seem to be positioning themselves as one of the top contenders in the AFC. The addition of Kenneth Walker III has significantly enhanced their running game.
However, the passing offense could use support, which might sound odd given Patrick Mahomes’ return. But with Tyquan Thornton sidelined for the season and Rashee Rice still recovering from a hamstring injury sustained against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 4, acquiring a wide receiver could be beneficial for Kansas City.
Another team struggling with wide receiver injuries is…?
The injured list for the receiving corps is extensive. DeMarcus Robinson, D’Zhaun Stribling, and Ricky Pearsall are all currently unavailable, and Brandon Aiyuk remains out after an unusual offseason. Meanwhile, although Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel are active, both have faced injury challenges this season.
San Francisco, which signed veteran Brandin Cooks to the practice squad in late September and then promoted him, could really benefit from Downs. For a team aiming for another playoff run, he would provide quarterback Brock Purdy with a solid target.
While the first two teams have pressing needs due to injuries, the Atlanta Falcons present an interesting scenario considering their roster configuration and potential to compete in the NFC South.
The Falcons feature big targets like Drake London and Kyle Pitts Sr., but finding the right slot receiver has been trickier. Options like Jahan Dotson and Olamide Zaccheaus come to mind, along with rookie Zachariah Branch, who has had issues with ball security, notably losing fumbles against the Chicago Bears in Week 6.
Adding Downs could offer Atlanta a proven slot weapon to balance their roster’s capabilities.
Shifting focus back to teams needing roster reinforcement because of injuries, the Washington Commanders confirmed on Wednesday that Terry McLaurin is now on Injured Reserve after tearing his patellar tendon against the 49ers in Week 6, officially ending his season. Though the team had indicated earlier that he would be out, this announcement makes it official.
Currently, the Commanders’ receivers include Dyami Brown, Stefon Diggs, Antonio Williams, Treylon Burks, and Luke McCaffrey, but bringing in Downs could provide Jayden Daniels with another viable target. Even though the Commanders sit at the bottom of their division with a 1-4-1 record, they remain only a few games behind the Giants, and with the Eagles and Cowboys both having wobbly seasons, it hardly seems time to throw in the towel.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are also reportedly looking to strengthen their receiving options.
As it stands, rookie Germie Bernard and veteran DK Metcalf are the primary targets for Aaron Rodgers, while Michael Pittman Jr. is on Injured Reserve with a foot injury that may keep him out for an extended period. Roman Wilson is also on IR, but his finger injury might allow for a return in Week 10.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Matt Bowen noted that the Steelers would be a good match for Downs, alongside the Chiefs. Bowen pointed out that Downs possesses “sudden footwork and coverage recognition to uncover between the numbers [and] fits a team looking for a high-percentage target to win underneath and move the chains.”
Pittsburgh could be an ideal landing spot, considering the talents of Bernard and Metcalf.
