If you’re asking who the next NFL player to get traded is, Downs is our pick. Jonathan Taylor is the bigger name, but Shane Steichen says JT hasn’t asked for a trade and Colts ownership reportedly wants to keep him. Downs has asked. He’s on an expiring deal. And teams were already calling before he made it official.
The Colts are having a full-blown fire sale.
Tuesday they shipped Quenton Nelson to Seattle and DeForest Buckner to San Francisco. Wednesday, Josh Downs asked out.
No sportsbook has a market up on this, so we built our own. Here’s how we’d price it. If you want to see where real NFL lines are posted, check our best NFL betting sites and apps.
Josh Downs Next Team Odds
| Team | Odds | Implied Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas City Chiefs | +200 | 33.3% |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | +300 | 25.0% |
| New England Patriots | +500 | 16.7% |
| Los Angeles Rams | +600 | 14.3% |
| Stays with Colts | +700 | 12.5% |
| Field | +1000 | 9.1% |
| San Francisco 49ers | +1200 | 7.7% |
| Atlanta Falcons | +1800 | 5.3% |
Odds are Mr. Gamble projections as of October 29, 2026, and aren’t available at sportsbooks.
Why Is Downs Next Out the Door?
Because everything lines up.
Indy is 2-5 and in teardown mode. Chris Ballard got fired on October 19. Interim GM Ed Dodds is clearly stockpiling picks.
Downs is 25 and in the last year of his rookie deal. He’s a 2027 free agent. The Colts weren’t paying him long term anyway.
And he’s frustrated. With Alec Pierce on IR, Downs has been seeing a second defender all season. He’s got 26 catches for 307 yards and zero touchdowns through seven games. His catch rate is a career-low 56.5%. Daniel Jones hasn’t helped.
Per ESPN, multiple teams showed interest, but nothing moved. So he asked. When reporters asked him about it, he said he’s “open to whatever.”
That’s not a guy who wants to stay.
Related: NFL Week 8 Picks
What Will It Cost?
Not a ton.
Nelson brought back a 2027 third and a 2028 fifth. Buckner, a three-time Pro Bowler, got a fourth. Downs is a slot guy on an expiring deal, so think Day 3 pick, maybe with a sweetener.
That’s cheap enough for basically any contender to get in.
Kansas City Chiefs, +200
This is the obvious one.
KC is 5-1 but just got smoked 20-3 by Seattle on Sunday night. Tyquan Thornton is on IR with a dislocated ankle. Rashee Rice hasn’t played since hurting his hamstring in Week 4.
Adam Schefter and Jeremy Fowler both said the Chiefs are calling around for receiver help. Downs is a quick-separation slot guy who’d give Patrick Mahomes an easy completion on third down. Cheap, available, fills a hole. Checks every box.
Pittsburgh Steelers, +300
Pittsburgh has reportedly already shown interest. Jordan Schultz said a deal wasn’t likely this week but expects Downs to get moved eventually.
The Steelers are 5-2 and Aaron Rodgers wants the ball out fast. Downs fits that. The knock is that DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman and rookie Germie Bernard already give them bodies. More luxury than need.
New England Patriots, +500
The fun angle here is Drake Maye.
They were teammates at North Carolina in 2022, when Downs caught 94 balls for 1,029 yards and 11 touchdowns. That kind of chemistry doesn’t just disappear.
The Pats are 4-3 and already added A.J. Brown this offseason. Downs would give Maye a reliable underneath option to go with him.
Los Angeles Rams, +600
Davante Adams is out about two months, and the Rams have been leaning on the run game without him.
Downs next to Puka Nacua makes a ton of sense for Matthew Stafford. He’d also keep a real role once Adams is back. Sneaky good fit.
Stays with Colts, +700
Could happen, but we doubt it.
The only real path is if Indy hates every offer and decides to ride it out. But he asked out, his deal is up after the season and the front office is clearly in sell mode. Hanging onto him gets them nothing.
San Francisco 49ers, +1200
The Niners already bought once this week with Buckner, so they’re in go mode.
They’ve had injuries pile up and have been linked to other receivers. Downs would give Brock Purdy another separator underneath next to George Kittle and Christian McCaffrey. Just not much direct buzz yet.
Atlanta Falcons, +1800
Atlanta has popped up in a couple of landing-spot lists as a team that wants another playmaker next to Drake London, Bijan Robinson and Kyle Pitts.
Nothing concrete. We’re keeping them long.
When Will We Know?
The deadline is Tuesday, November 10 at 4 p.m. ET.
Downs says he’s playing until something happens, and the Colts host the Jaguars this weekend. If a contender loses a receiver on Sunday, this could move fast.
Keep an eye on Jonathan Taylor too. If Indy decides to move JT after all, that’s the blockbuster. But Downs is the one who’s most likely to go first.
Want to put a position on trade-deadline outcomes like this one? Event contracts are listed on prediction markets, and our prediction market promo codes page compares the current sign-up offers.
Odds are for entertainment purposes only. Must be 21+ to gamble. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
