Among the NFL’s top 10 wide receivers in open-target rate in 2023, was the Indianapolis Colts rookie Josh Downs coming in at No. 10.
Pro Football Focus used its charting data to compile this list and determined if a player was open or not on a given target by how much space there was between the receiver and the defender.
Of Downs’ 94 targets, 80 of them he was open on, according to PFF, generating an open-target rate of 85.1 percent.
At the top of this list was Kalif Raymond, followed by Wan’Dale Robinson, Khalil Shakir, Rashee Ricce, and Zay Flowers, rounding out the top five.
Downs finished his rookie season, catching 72 percent of his targets for 771 yards and two touchdowns. He was one of the most productive players within the Colts offense, leading the team in missed tackles and average YAC. Downs also had 30 first downs gained and 10 receptions of 20-plus yards.
Among all receivers, Downs totaled the seventh-most yards from the slot and ranked sixth among all rookie receivers in receiving yards.
After a very strong rookie season, Downs appears poised to make that Year 2 leap that so many successful NFL players make. While Michael Pittman was sidelined during OTAs and minicamp, Downs was a go-to target for Anthony Richardson during team drills.
That year of experience can be extremely valuable because of the added comfort that continuity and familiarity with the offense can provide. This results in Downs having a better understanding of both his role and the roles of his teammates, and when there is comfort, confidence usually follows.
“That comes with understanding the offense more,” said Downs about heading into his second season. “Just knowing what the other receivers, even the tight end running, and then knowing the run game better as well.
“And then just having a year under your belt. You know the level of competition that you’re going to go against now and you see what type of players you’re playing against each and every week.”
Downs deserves most of the credit for getting open this often, but Shane Steichen’s play-calling should get some love as well, with his ability to put his skill position players in space where they are then set up to make plays.