Should Patriots try to trade for Colts WR Josh Downs before deadline?

The Indianapolis Colts are a team to watch ahead of the Nov. 10 NFL trade deadline.

They've already dealt guard Quenton Nelson to the Seattle Seahawks and edge rusher DeForest Buckner to the San Francisco 49ers. Other potential trade candidates on their roster include wide receiver Josh Downs and defensive tackle Grover Stewart.

Downs has requested a trade, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported Wednesday afternoon. "Downs has garnered trade interest from multiple teams but a deal hasn’t materialized yet, and with the Colts’ clear rebuilding efforts, Downs wants to be moved, which is known in the building," Fowler wrote on X.

The 25-year-old wideout is in the final year of his contract with a salary cap hit of around $4.1 million. He's eligible to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.

Should the New England Patriots make a run at acquiring Downs before the trade deadline?

Reasons to make a deal

Veteran wideouts Mack Hollins and Romeo Doubs are on injured reserve. It's not known when exactly they'll return. A.J. Brown missed four games earlier in the season due to a high ankle sprain and hasn't been productive over the last two weeks. DeMario Douglas shows flashes of playmaking ability, but he has tallied fewer than 40 receiving yards in five of the team's seven games.

Kyle Williams is a big-play threat but he's way too inconsistent. After good performances against the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets in Weeks 4 and 5, respectively, Efton Chism III has tallied one catch for 16 yards in the last two games combined.

If fully healthy, the Patriots should have enough depth at wide receiver. But what are the chances this group has great health for most of what's left of the season?

Downs is not a superstar by any means, but he's a solid player who can be productive, mostly in the slot. His 231 receiving yards from the slot position ranks fifth-highest among all wide receivers through seven weeks, per Next Gen Stats. His 153 routes run from the slot lead all wideouts.

Downs also has a history with Patriots quarterback Drake Maye. He tallied 94 receptions for 1,029 yards and 11 touchdowns during Maye's first full season as the Tar Heels' starter. If reunited, they should have pretty good chemistry right away.

Reasons not to make a deal

One reason not to trade for Downs is that it would likely take snaps away from Douglas since both of them mostly operate out of the slot. Downs has gained more receiving yards than Douglas over the last three seasons (2023 through 2025), and he caught more touchdowns (11-5) in that span, too. Douglas has a slightly better catch rate and average yards per target, though.

This season, Downs has the edge in receiving yards (307-256), but Douglas has more touchdowns (3-0) and a better average target separation (3.8-2.8) on routes from the slot. In 2025, Douglas also had a better average target separation (4.3-2.7) than Downs from the slot.

They are very similar players. So, is it worth giving up a draft pick when the Patriots can maybe target Douglas a little more in the passing attack?

Verdict

Given the Patriots' injury issues, plus his previous success with Maye, a potential Downs trade should at least be considered, assuming the asking price isn't crazy.

The Patriots have three sixth-round picks in 2027 and two sixth-round picks in 2028. They have at least one pick in every round in 2027, as well as picks in rounds two through six in 2028.

The Patriots have other positions on their roster that need upgrading, including cornerback, guard, safety, defensive tackle (run stopper) and edge rusher. But if Downs is available for a late-round pick, it would be worth exploring. He's a very good player.