Why Is Josh Downs Looking For An Exit As Pat McAfee Questions Indianapolis’ Future?

Josh Downs wants out of Indianapolis, and the Colts have until November 10 to decide his future.© Image via: X/@danfetes

Indianapolis Colts fans got another jolt this week. Wide receiver Josh Downs, the one player who still looked like a safe bet, wants out. His request lands right after the Colts fired general manager Chris Ballard and shipped guard Quenton Nelson to the Seattle Seahawks and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to the San Francisco 49ers. The trade deadline falls on November 10, so the clock is ticking. Downs is 25, productive, and in the final year of his rookie deal. The real question is what Indianapolis gets back, and whether this rebuild has a plan.

Josh Downs Trade Request Puts The Indianapolis Colts On The Clock

Josh Downs was a third-round pick in 2023, taken 79th overall. Through seven games this season, he has 26 catches for 307 yards and no touchdowns, with two starts. Those numbers look modest. The context matters, though. Alec Pierce is nursing an ankle injury, which has made Downs the top target in the receiver room. Over his career, he owns 224 receptions, 2,447 yards and 11 touchdowns.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported the request, and Downs kept his tone relaxed. "I'm open to whatever. Whatever comes my way, come my way and we go from there," he said, per ESPN.

#Colts WR Josh Downs on trade rumors: “It is what it is. I'm here today, but whatever comes my way comes my way.” Did he request a trade? “Like I said, I'm open to whatever. Whatever comes my way comes my way.” “I'm here right now. I'm where my feet are. …” https://t.co/pgZnRw9GID

— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) October 28, 2026

Ian Rapoport expects a busy market. "I know there's a couple teams interested and there's gonna be a market for him... I do believe that he will be traded," Rapoport said on the Pat McAfee Show. Some have floated a reunion with his old North Carolina quarterback, Drake Maye of the New England Patriots. That would make a fun storyline.

Pat McAfee Sees An Indianapolis Colts Franchise In A Bad Spot After The Chris Ballard Firing

Chris Ballard went 72-82-1 in Indianapolis and reached the playoffs twice. Owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon explained the decision. "As I said at the start of the season, the sense of urgency has never been higher. Our standard is to compete for championships, and I believe a change in leadership is necessary to meet that standard." Assistant general manager Ed Dodds now oversees the personnel department.

McAfee, a former Colts punter, argues the problem runs deeper than one bad start. He pointed to Nelson's second extension and Buckner's two-year deal in 2024, then said, "It's like, man, we're in a bad spot, bro. We are in a bad spot in Indianapolis Colts."

On Downs, he sounded kinder. "He's the only guy that we have that is seemingly open consistently. He's just open. That's the only way you can really describe him, and somebody is going to really enjoy him, man."

Here is the catch. Indianapolis holds eight picks in the 2027 draft but no first-rounder, since it went to the New York Jets for Sauce Gardner. Trading Downs for a strong pick would ease that hole. Keeping him means paying a receiver who wants to leave. Neither path is simple, and the next two weeks will show which one the Colts choose.