EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsKANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Josh Downs celebrated almost immediately.Using his X account Tuesday afternoon, Downs, the Kansas City Chiefs' newest receiver, posted the popular GIF of Vince Carter, the NBA legend overwhelmed with emotion when the Toronto Raptors retired his jersey. Downs wanted to express his joy Tuesday for a variety of reasons -- his newest quarterback is Patrick Mahomes, his newest coach is Andy Reid and he is the newest member of the Chiefs, one of the NFL's contenders in the AFC.The Chiefs bolstered their passing attack just before the NFL's trade deadline by acquiring Downs, a four-year player, from the Indianapolis Colts. The deal included the Chiefs sending 2027 fourth- and fifth-round picks to the Colts in exchange for Downs and a 2027 seventh-round pick.Mahomes celebrated the move, orchestrated by general manager Brett Veach, by using his X account to post the alarm clock emoji, indicating he is ready to start working with Downs to improve the Chiefs' offense.Last month, Downs, who will be a free agent after this season, requested to be traded from the Colts. One reason, according to sources with knowledge of Downs' thinking, was Downs knowing he had the potential to play alongside Mahomes and the rest of the Chiefs' stars on offense, including running back Kenneth Walker III, tight end Travis Kelce and fellow receiver Rashee Rice.The week before the Chiefs' 35-12 defeat of the New York Jets on Sunday, the team had offered a fourth-round pick to the Colts for Downs, according to a source with knowledge of the negotiation. The Colts, who had already traded left guard Quenton Nelson and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, were hoping to persuade a team to offer a third-round pick for Downs. The Chiefs' willingness to swap 2027 Day 3 picks with the Colts was the final piece for both teams to agree to consummate the trade."I am beyond grateful and blessed for my time in Indy," Downs wrote on his X account Tuesday. "Nothing but love For the Shoe."In nine games this season, Downs recorded 33 receptions on 56 targets for 354 yards and one touchdown.Improving the receiving position was the Chiefs' biggest need ahead of the trade deadline. One reason the Chiefs strongly needed to add another receiver was a lack of production at the position. Heading into Week 10, Downs' production this season exceeds that of any receiver on Kansas City's roster; Rice leads the Chiefs wideouts with 25 receptions on 31 targets for 292 yards.The lack of production from the Chiefs' collection of receivers -- Rice, Xavier Worthy, rookie Cyrus Allen, Andrew Armstrong and Jalen Royals -- over the past four games before Tuesday's trade made it difficult for Mahomes to have success when passing the ball downfield. Since a Week 4 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, Mahomes hasn't completed a pass of over 20 air yards. That stat coincides with the loss of the Chiefs' best deep threat to that point, receiver Tyquan Thornton, suffering a dislocated left ankle in the game against Las Vegas.Downs should be beneficial to Mahomes because of his combination of quickness at the line of scrimmage, speed in the open field and his ability to get open with crisp route running, especially from the slot. The Chiefs experienced Downs' talents in their Week 2 win over the Colts, when he, mostly running his routes from the slot, led Indy with seven receptions on nine targets for 72 yards."[Against] man coverage, he's going to win," ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky, a former NFL quarterback, said Tuesday on "NFL Live" in reaction to the trade. "[In] Week 2, he was unguardable. This fills a need, but also it's, 'Who are we going to have to beat?' If you're going to play Cincinnati, they like to play a decent amount of man coverage. Jacksonville, they'll play a lot of match coverage [with man principles]. Buffalo has played more man coverage recently."They needed another receiver that could become reliable."Downs' play has been inconsistent since the start of October. He has produced 168 receiving yards and one touchdown over the past six games. In his final game with Indy, a loss to the Dallas Cowboys, Downs had two critical dropped passes.The Chiefs also shouldn't expect Downs to be a receiver who can dominate games and shoulder a lot of targets, like many No. 1 receivers across the league. In his career, Downs has generated 100 or more receiving yards just twice.The Chiefs, though, are optimistic that Downs will be able to complement Kelce, Rice and Walker, who has already recorded a career-high four receiving touchdowns this season.Downs' speed and his history for generating long receptions should allow Mahomes to have a viable option when opposing defenses put eight defenders in the box to account for Walker's rushing threat. In his career, Downs has receptions of 59, 69, 34 and 42 yards. Any of those gains would be a season long for every Chief except Worthy, whose longest reception is 41 yards. Downs' five receptions of 20 yards or more are also more than any Chief wideout.Mahomes didn't have similar big-play ability last week against the Jets. In that game, Mahomes averaged just 2.8 air yards per attempt, his second fewest in a game in his career, according to Next Gen Stats, despite finishing with 242 yards and two touchdowns. The Chiefs' fastest receiver that day, Worthy, also suffered a left hamstring injury late in the fourth quarter, which could force him to miss the team's game against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.Though he'll have only three practices with his new teammates before facing the Falcons, Downs is expected to play a role in the Chiefs' game plan. Starting Sunday, Downs will have nine games left in the regular season to see how quickly he and Mahomes can build their chemistry, and how much they can help the team put more points on the scoreboard."They've got to be smart and be able to pick [the playbook] up quickly," Reid said two weeks ago of the Chiefs potentially adding a receiver. "I've had players that have done that. But I would tell you there better be some form of aptitude there, capacity, because you're jumping in the middle of things."
