Mike Kadlick#16 of 87 NFL pundits · Oct 27, 2026
Kadlick names the Chiefs, Patriots and 49ers as the three best trade landing spots for Colts wide receiver Josh Downs ahead of the Nov. 10 deadline.
Published in writing · Sports IllustratedRead the original
What Mike Kadlick said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromHere are three potential landing spots for the shifty wide receiver.
- Where it was published
- Sports Illustrated
- The piece
- Josh Downs Trade Destinations: Three Best Landing Spots for Wide Receiver As Colts Continue to Sell
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- SaidOct 27
- GradedNov 11
- 1Josh Downs to move to Kansas City Chiefs“Kansas City Chiefs ... Downs would give Andy Reid and the Chiefs’ offense a seasoned, reliable, underneath target as they look to add a spark for the stretch run.”
- 2Josh Downs to move to San Francisco 49ers“San Francisco 49ers ... Downs would bring an important element to the 49ers amid their 6–1 start to the season.”
- 3Josh Downs to move to New England Patriots“New England Patriots ... Downs also makes sense for the Patriots given his connection with Maye.”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Josh Downs to move to Kansas City Chiefs1 | Trade and Signing Calls | — | 100 | 0 | +161 | |
| Josh Downs to move to San Francisco 49ers2 | Trade and Signing Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Josh Downs to move to New England Patriots3 | Trade and Signing Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 3 calls · 1 hit · 2 waiting | 100 | 0 | ||||
How each call scored
a naive guessbetter than naive3 checkable claims — 3 trade and signing calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 4 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
1 of 3 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Each call is scored 0 to 100 against what happened, on its own, by the published methodology. The naive guess is what knowing nothing would have scored on the same calls; the gap, weighted by how hard the call was, is the skill.
1Trade and Signing CallsJosh DownsKansas City Chiefs
Josh Downs to move to Kansas City Chiefs
VerdictHit100Hit · naive 0100this call−0a naive guess=100better than naive×1.61difficulty=+161skillThink this is wrong?How this was scored
- skill:
- 161
- player:
- Josh Downs
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- KC
- was with:
- IND
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 0
- reported:
- traded → KC
- how he left:
- traded
- mechanism:
- traded
- settled by:
- a confirmed report from the crawl (reported outcomes)
- difficulty:
- 1.61
- the naive guess:
- he stays where he is
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 11
2Trade and Signing CallsJosh DownsSan Francisco 49ers
Josh Downs to move to San Francisco 49ers
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
3Trade and Signing CallsJosh DownsNew England Patriots
Josh Downs to move to New England Patriots
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
Noah Compton · Trade and Signing Calls · Josh Downs · Hit 100
Compton expects the rebuilding Colts to keep dealing veterans before the November 10 deadline, naming Jonathan Taylor, Josh Downs and Grover Stewart as the likeliest remaining trade candidates, and believes Indianapolis should and likely will move on from quarterback Daniel Jones, while Shane Steichen keeps starting Jones in the meantime.Gilberto Manzano · Trade and Signing Calls · Josh Downs · Hit 100
Previewing the trade deadline, he expects Justin Herbert to stay in Los Angeles despite the Chargers' 0–7 start, thinks the Jets will keep Garrett Wilson and pair him with their young weapons, expects a receiver-hungry Kansas City to be aggressive with Josh Downs the likeliest target, and suggests expiring Eagles contracts Moro Ojomo and Riq Woolen could be dealt for mid-round picks.Joshua Poniatowski · Trade and Signing Calls · Josh Downs · Hit 100
Poniatowski names several trade targets, predicting Malik Willis underperforms this week against New England, that Omarion Hampton could become a viable RB2 if Adam Gase takes over play-calling, that Josh Downs gets traded (ideally to Kansas City, where they'd be a top-24 WR), that Brian Thomas Jr. could be dealt to the Rams or 49ers, and that Travis Kelce remains a consistent weekly TE.
More trade and signing calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Nate Gosney · Trade and Signing Calls · Daiyan Henley · Miss 0
After the Broncos rescinded the trade, Gosney expects Daiyan Henley to remain with the Chargers for the rest of the 2026 season, but believes the awkward fallout has effectively killed any chance of them signing a new contract with Los Angeles after the season.Logan Lazarczyk · Trade and Signing Calls · Kirk Cousins · Hit 100
Ahead of the trade deadline, they float three Raiders moves: shipping Kirk Cousins to Minnesota if the Vikings offer a second-round pick, selling Maxx Crosby to Dallas for a first-rounder plus, and acquiring Jaguars receiver Brian Thomas Jr. for a second- or third-round pick.Patricia Traina · Trade and Signing Calls · J.J. McCarthy · Hit 100
Traina expects defensive tackle to be a top need for the Giants in next year's draft, and suggests the Giants could trade J.J. McCarthy next offseason — or keep both them and Jaxson Dart if the return isn't good enough. They also expect Dart to make a full recovery.Michael David Smith · Trade and Signing Calls · Keenan Allen · Hit 100
Smith suggests the Colts are likely to grant Josh Downs' trade request given their contract situation and their recent sell-off, and that they could also try to trade Keenan Allen.Mike Fanelli · Trade and Signing Calls · Keenan Allen · Hit 100
Fanelli suggested Keenan Allen may be dealt away from Indianapolis, with Week 9 potentially their final appearance for the Colts.