With just a few weeks until the 2023 NFL draft, North Carolina wide receiver Josh Downs is projected as a second-round pick by most analysts.
Downs is ranked anywhere from WR4-WR6 behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Quintin Johnston and Jordan Addison. The former UNC standout isn’t taking any top 30 visits ahead of the draft, which leads us to believe he’s fine with his draft stock following the scouting combine and his pro day.
But as we count down to the draft, Downs is being connected to one franchise that is ready to usher in a new era at quarterback.
Bleacher Report’s Maurice Moton names Downs as a fit for the Green Bay Packers:
“Josh Downs may go earlier than some draftniks expect in a few weeks. Though we graded him on the low end of our top wide receiver prospects, he may have a higher value for teams that want a pure slot receiver.
“Downs is a shifty wideout who’s going to put defenders in a blender. He’s a nuanced route-runner who can win one-on-one matchups against man coverage and find the shallow areas of coverage in zone schemes.
“On the collegiate level, Downs showed consistency with two years of high-end production. Since 2021, he’s caught 195 passes for 2,364 yards and 19 touchdowns. The North Carolina product could become a reliable No. 2 pass-catching option out of the slot in the upcoming season.”
The Packers are set to move on from Aaron Rodgers as he’s made it known his intentions are to play for the New York Jets. The two sides are simply waiting on agreeing to a deal.
If Downs lands in Green Bay, he will get to work with Jordan Love who is set to enter his first year as a starter. It would give Downs the chance to be the young quarterback’s go-to target right away.
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