Michael David SmithNov 8, 2026
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.
Published in writing · NBC SportsRead the original
What Michael David Smith said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromthe Colts would seem likely to be willing to grant that request
- Where it was published
- NBC Sports
- The piece
- Report: Colts have told teams they were offered a fourth-round pick for Josh Downs
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- SaidNov 8
- GradedNov 11
- 1Keenan Allen to move — “could also try to trade”“The Colts could also try to trade wide receiver Keenan Allen, who's second on the team with 325 receiving yards this season”
- 2Josh Downs to move — “traded”“Downs has asked the Colts to trade him , and the Colts would seem likely to be willing to grant that request, given that he's in the final year of his rookie contract”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keenan Allen to move — “could also try to trade”1 | Trade and Signing Calls | — | 100 | 0 | +156 | |
| Josh Downs to move — “traded”2 | Trade and Signing Calls | — | 100 | 0 | +156 | |
| 2 calls · 2 hits · all settled | 100 | 0 | ||||
How each call scored
a naive guessbetter than naive2 checkable claims — 2 trade and signing calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 2 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
All 2 have settled, 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 CallsKeenan Allen
Keenan Allen to move — “could also try to trade”
VerdictHit100Hit · naive 0100this call−0a naive guess=100better than naive×1.56difficulty=+156skillThink this is wrong?How this was scored
- skill:
- 156
- player:
- Keenan Allen
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he leaves
- was with:
- LAC
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 0
- reported:
- traded → SF (from IND)
- how he left:
- traded
- mechanism:
- traded
- settled by:
- a confirmed report from the crawl (reported outcomes)
- difficulty:
- 1.56
- the naive guess:
- he stays where he is
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 10
2Trade and Signing CallsJosh Downs
Josh Downs to move — “traded”
VerdictHit100Hit · naive 0100this call−0a naive guess=100better than naive×1.56difficulty=+156skillThink this is wrong?How this was scored
- skill:
- 156
- player:
- Josh Downs
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he leaves
- 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:
- 1.56
- the naive guess:
- he stays where he is
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 10
- All
The take as a whole
the average of 2 settled calls, each counted once
100naive 0
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.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.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.Adam Schefter · Trade and Signing Calls · Josh Downs · Hit 100
Schefter, as relayed on the show, said they expect Josh Downs to be traded.
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.Thomas Martinez · Trade and Signing Calls · Daiyan Henley · Hit 100
Martinez argues the Chargers will be sellers at the 2026 trade deadline, predicting Khalil Mack is dealt (for an early-to-mid Day 3 pick) and that linebacker Daiyan Henley could also be moved for a mid Day 3 pick, while suggesting the club acquire edge rusher Malik Herring and blocking tight end Ko Kieft for late-round picks.Tom Pelissero · Trade and Signing Calls · Kirk Cousins · Hit 100
Pelissero laid out the Giants' quarterback situation with Jameis Winston starting, said Jayden Daniels likely won't be back when Washington plays the Giants and that Caleb Williams is unlikely to play Monday night, and floated Joey Porter Jr. landing in Dallas and Kirk Cousins being traded in-season.