Indianapolis Colts Holding Fourth-Round Offer For Josh Downs Before Hosting Dallas Cowboys
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Colts have told other teams they already received an offer of a fourth-round pick for wide receiver Josh Downs, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport and ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Saturday. Indianapolis initially asked for a third-round pick.
Downs requested a trade Oct. 28, one day after the Colts sent guard Quenton Nelson to the Seattle Seahawks and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to the San Francisco 49ers. The 25-year-old is in the final year of the four-year, $5.5 million rookie contract he signed after Indianapolis drafted him in the third round, No. 79 overall, out of North Carolina in 2023. Through eight games this season, he has 30 receptions on 51 targets for 330 yards and 1 touchdown.
Earlier this week, FOX Sports’ Ralph Vacchiano reported that the Kansas City Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers are interested in Downs. Both teams are in the market for a wide receiver, according to Rapoport and Schefter, who did not identify the team behind the fourth-round offer.
Colts Also Taking Calls On Keenan Allen And Grover Stewart
Downs is not the only Indianapolis receiver drawing interest. Veteran Keenan Allen has been the subject of some inquiries, Rapoport and Schefter reported. Defensive tackle Grover Stewart has continued to receive trade interest as well, though the Colts are aiming high on him and teams feel the price is more than they would give right now.
Allen, 34, signed with Indianapolis as a free agent Aug. 19. The six-time Pro Bowl selection is in his 14th NFL season. The Los Angeles Chargers drafted him in the third round in 2013, and he spent 11 seasons with the franchise before a 2024 stop with the Chicago Bears and a 2025 return to Los Angeles.
Stewart, 33, is in the final year of his contract. He has 26 tackles and a half-sack in eight games this season. Over the Cap lists a $14.25 million cap hit for Stewart in 2026, and a trade would leave Indianapolis with $2 million in dead money, according to Athlon Sports.
Daniel Jones, Jonathan Taylor Talks Continue Before Dallas Cowboys Visit
Multiple teams have also called about quarterback Daniel Jones. The Baltimore Ravens checked on Jones before trading for Jacoby Brissett, and there has been speculation about interest from the Minnesota Vikings, per Rapoport and Schefter. Jones signed a two-year, $88 million contract in March. This season, he has completed 60.4% of his passes for 1,542 yards, 5 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions.
Indianapolis is sitting on an offer of a second-round pick and more for running back Jonathan Taylor, Rapoport and Schefter reported. Jordan Schultz reported this week that the Colts plan to wait until after Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys to revisit trade talks, barring an offer that blows them away.
Taylor wants the Colts to put a better product on the field Sunday after last week’s 42-7 loss at Jacksonville.
“It’s kind of dragged on for a while now, so at this point, it’s just noise,” Taylor said Thursday. “It’s been like three or four or however many weeks, so at this point, it becomes regular scheduled programming.”
The Colts (2-6) have lost four straight. Dallas (3-5) visits Lucas Oil Stadium for a noon CT kickoff on FOX, and the trade deadline follows at 3 p.m. CT Tuesday.
