Colts GM had high praise for rookie WR Josh Downs
Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard had high praise for one of the team's most productive rookies. He appeared on the Colts' official podcast, and one of the players he discussed was rookie WR Josh Downs. "Josh Downs is really really freaking good." – Chris Ballard Ballard decided to dig into his past to express the […]
Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard had high praise for one of the team's most productive rookies. He appeared on the Colts' official podcast, and one of the players he discussed was rookie WR Josh Downs.
"Josh Downs is really really freaking good."
– Chris Ballard
Ballard decided to dig into his past to express the type of WR the Colts believe they have in Josh Downs. And he came up with two WRs that he had the pleasure to watch up close and how there are comparisons to what he's seeing now with Downs.
Tyreek Hill
Ballard was with the Kansas City Chiefs as their Director of Football Personnel from 2013 to 2016. His last year with the Chiefs was when the Chiefs drafted All-Pro WR Tyreek Hill. And Ballard has had a similar reaction to Downs that he did during Hill's rookie season.
"The first rookie minicamp he was lights out, there was no doubt he was going help us right away. I think the last player; I'm not putting him on this pedestal; but I remember Tyreek Hill when I was in Kansas City for his first mini camp and you go okay we have something here. Same thing with Josh."
– Chris Ballard
T.Y. Hilton
When Chris Ballard accepted the Colts general manager position, one of the best players on the team's roster he inherited was WR T.Y. Hilton.
"We knew he was highly competitive you saw that on tape, we knew he had tremendous instincts we saw that on tape. The more I'm around him and watch him he's got some T.Y. (Hilton) in him."
– Chris Ballard
Ballard would go on to explain this comparison by saying:
"T.Y. probably had the best instincts of any player I've been around in my career. The kid just knew how to play the game, Josh has some of that in him. He knows he's got tremendous instincts and feel for the game."
– Chris Ballard
Hill and Hilton are probably the two best WRs Ballard has been around during his NFL career. So, for Downs to be compared to those two players specifically, it is high praise from the Colts general manager. I think it's safe to say the Colts have enjoyed the return on investment from drafting Downs with the 79th pick of the 2023 NFL Draft.
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