Former North Carolina Tar Heels wide receiver Josh Downs fell further than he wanted to in the 2023 NFL draft. But the Indianapolis Colts took Downs off the board in the third round at No. 79 overall.
The hope for the Colts is to pair Downs with quarterback Anthony Richardson who the team took inside the top 5. If both Downs and Richardson pan out, the Colts will have a dynamic duo for years to come.
As we continue on through offseason workouts, Downs is being recognized as a player that could be a potential sleeper for the 2023 NFL season. Here is what Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports wrote on Downs:
Downs will be the extension of Indianapolis’ run game in 2023. Particularly with Shane Steichen calling the plays and a rookie quarterback in the shotgun. Steichen was part of the coaching staff that provided Justin Herbert with plenty of easy, schemed-open targets in his rookie season of 2020 then followed by being part of the staff that constructed a cozy environment for Jalen Hurts in 2021. Downs will be the main recipient of Steichen’s RPO game and receiver screens of every variety. He’s ultra quick and has sneaky explosiveness. Plus, he tracks the football like he’s 6-foot-2.
Downs flashed his potential while spending three seasons at North Carolina, recording over 1,000 receiving yards in his final two seasons. He also recorded 100 receptions in 2021 and 94 in the 2022 season while missing some time.
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