Why Chiefs might be in drivers seat to trade for Colts WR Josh Downs originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Kansas City Chiefs are looking for wide receiver help at the 2026 NFL trade deadline. Rashee Rice hasn’t lived up to expectations, Xavier Worthy is banged up and underwhelming, and Tyquan Thornton is out for the season.
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While Kenneth Walker III and Travis Kelce are still great, the Chiefs really could use another wide receiver. Fortunately, there are some intriguing names to monitor. One has emerged as a very real possibility for the Chiefs.
According to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, Indianapolis Colts WR Josh Downs would seem to be the favorite to head to Kansas City this season in a trade. The reason why? Teams during Week 9 believed the Chiefs would win the Downs sweepstakes.
“The Chiefs and Steelers have been the prime suitors for receivers, with the Niners still lingering on the periphery,” Breer writes. “There was a belief from some teams over the weekend that Downs would be moved to Kansas City for a fourth-round pick.”
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With the Chiefs clearly in the market for wide receiver help, it should come as little surprise that they’re heavily involved in the Downs trade sweepstakes.
But it should also be noted that with this update from Breer, the Chiefs seem to be the favorites to land the Colts wide receiver.
Downs would be a very nice addition for this Chiefs offense. While he’s not the star receiver like George Pickens or Brian Thomas Jr., Downs is a very solid option to raise the floor of this Chiefs offense.
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He has just 354 receiving yards and one touchdown on 33 receptions with the Colts in 2026, but two years ago in 2024 he caught 72 of his 107 targets for 803 yards and five touchdowns.
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If he can join a good passing offense and link up with Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City, he could have a second-half resurgence with the Chiefs.
The Chiefs need wide receiver help, and Downs is a free agent following the 2026 NFL season, meaning the Colts have every reason to trade him away.
If that fourth-round pick offer is still on the table, the Chiefs might be the frontrunners for Downs, and he’d make for a quality WR upgrade for Kansas City as they look to contend for another Super Bowl this season.
