Young Colts Receiver Has Bright NFL Future
The Indianapolis Colts addressed several positional needs in the 2023 NFL Draft. One glaring area was wide receiver. They filled this gap by selecting North Carolina’s Josh Downs in the third round (79th overall.)
Immediately, Downs made enough of an impact during the offseason to supplant veteran Isaiah McKenzie as the starting slot receiver. The former Tar Heel didn’t let up that role for all of the 2023 season.
Downs posted the following numbers, along with rank on the Colts:
- 98 targets (2nd)
- 68 catches (2nd)
- 771 yards (2nd)
- 2 touchdowns (tied-3rd)
- 30 first downs (2nd)
An important fact to note is that Downs' ranks are mostly behind star wideout Michael Pittman Jr. Pittman commanded almost 30% of the passes for the Colts (156 targets out of 546 team pass attempts).
But Downs was no slouch, as he notched 18% of the target share. It shows that Downs and Pittman were the go-to playmakers for Indy's pass attack. The closest targets behind Downs are fellow receiver Alec Pierce (65 targets) and tight end Kylen Granson (50 targets).
Downs' performance garnered league-wide attention, as displayed in Bet Kentucky's "Best Value Wide Receivers of 2023-24 Season" article.
In their entry, they break down the absence of quarterback Anthony Richardson and how Downs still mustered a large piece of Indy's offense.
Despite their star rookie missing most of the season, the Colts, somewhat surprisingly, still produced one of the league’s better offenses under first-year coach Shane Steichen and drove plenty of interest in Kentucky sports betting. Their 23.2 points per game average was 10th best, and according to Pro-Football-Reference.com, the Colts tied with Cleveland for the seventh-best Offensive SRS rating in the NFL.
Downs, a third-round pick out of North Carolina, was a key contributor, playing in all 17 games and emerging as the Colts' No. 2 receiver. He finished the season with 68 receptions for 771 yards and two touchdowns. His catch and yardage totals were second on the team behind Michael Pittman, Jr. Those numbers are solid, but what stands out is the value the Colts got out of Downs in his rookie year.
Downs also found himself in a pass-catching company that could shape the NFL for years ahead.
Names like Puka Nacua (Los Angeles Rams), Amon-Ra St. Brown (Detroit Lions), Nico Collins (Houston Texans), and Rashee Rice (Kansas City Chiefs) all have serious potential to have fantastic NFL careers.
Downs already looks to be one of the most reliable targets for the Colts, making his sophomore NFL season intriguing. Downs will hope to have Richardson under center for all of 2024. If Richardson can stay healthy, Downs may break out.
If the 22-year-old receiver can set the Indianapolis-era rookie reception record with a backup quarterback for most of 2023, imagine his ceiling with a dynamic QB that will keep defenses guessing.
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