Chiefs trade for Colts slot receiver Josh Downs at the deadline, giving up two Day 3 picks
Kansas City sent 2027 fourth- and fifth-round picks to Indianapolis for Josh Downs, adding a proven slot receiver ahead of Sunday's game at Atlanta.
The Kansas City Chiefs went shopping for a receiver before Tuesday's trade deadline and came back with Josh Downs. They sent their 2027 fourth- and fifth-round picks to the Indianapolis Colts for Downs and a 2027 seventh-rounder, ESPN reported. Downs had asked the Colts to trade him, and he is in the last year of his rookie contract.
The Chiefs needed the help. CBS Sports found that Kansas City's wide receivers are producing 117.5 yards per game, which ranks 28th in the league and is the lowest figure of the Patrick Mahomes era. ESPN reported that Mahomes has not completed a pass traveling more than 20 air yards since the Week 4 win at Las Vegas. Tyquan Thornton had been the team's best deep threat before a dislocated ankle that required surgery. Mahomes averaged 2.8 air yards per attempt in last week's win over the Jets, the second-lowest mark of his career. Xavier Worthy also left that game late with a hamstring injury, and Andy Reid has called him day-to-day for Sunday, according to ESPN's player page, which cited the team's official site.
Downs works mostly out of the slot, and he does it well. By CBS Sports' count, his 1,995 slot receiving yards since he came into the league in 2023 rank second in the NFL, behind only Amon-Ra St. Brown. His 2026 season has been rougher. Defenses have keyed on him with Alec Pierce out, and he has 33 catches on 56 targets for 354 yards and one touchdown, with a career-low 57.9% catch rate. He dropped two passes in Sunday's loss to Dallas, and afterward he told reporters, "I got some things I've got to fix on my own," ESPN reported. The Chiefs have already seen what he can do when things go right. He caught seven passes for 72 yards against them in Week 2, a game Kansas City won 33-30.
The price fits a team trying to win now. CBS Sports gave Kansas City a B+ and pointed out that the Chiefs kept all of their Day 2 picks. Downs is a rental for now, though a strong second half with Mahomes could put a new contract in play next spring.
What it means for Atlanta
Kansas City is 6-2 and has gone 2-1 since dropping consecutive road games at Seattle (20-3) and Denver (28-24). The 35-12 win over the Jets got them back on track. They visit the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, November 15, on CBS. Downs should be able to play right away, and if Worthy can't go, the Chiefs will need him to handle a real share of the snaps.
The Chiefs are road favorites on this site's board, which tracks 12 venues. Novig has Kansas City at -178 on the moneyline. The best price anywhere is Pinnacle's -175, so the venues are close on who wins. Atlanta is +170 on Novig. The spread shows more variation. Novig lists the Chiefs at -3.5 with a +113 price, while Pinnacle has them at -3 for -115. On the Falcons side, Novig has Atlanta +3.5 at -115 and BetRivers has the best price at -114. Novig's total sits at 44.5, with the over at -113 and the under at +102. Fanatics is a point higher at 45.5. Sportsbook hold on the moneyline runs from 3.2% to 4.7%.