The NFL trade deadline is getting closer, and the Indianapolis Colts have a real decision to make on wide receiver Josh Downs. With his contract up and plenty of uncertainty in the building, Downs is a name that contending teams should be calling about.

On the latest episode of 13 Personnel, we worked through several deadline proposals. The Downs conversation started with one team and ended with a much better fit.

The first landing spot was the Pittsburgh Steelers. Technically, Pittsburgh can get it done with its 2027 fifth-round pick, which it acquired from the Dallas Cowboys. That would be a high fifth-round selection, but it still felt low for a player with Downs’ ability. The Steelers also don’t have a fourth-round pick to offer, so there isn’t much room to sweeten the deal.

That led to a better option.

Why the Los Angeles Rams make more sense for Josh Downs

The Los Angeles Rams love trading every pick they have, and they can make this work by sending their 2027 fourth-round pick to Indianapolis. Finding that pick in the trade machine wasn’t hard. Los Angeles has so few picks left that the fourth-rounder is sitting right at the top of the list.

Yes, the Rams would be extremely depleted in the 2027 draft. They have shown time and again that they don’t care much about that. General manager Les Snead has also proven he can manufacture movement, and Los Angeles has a bunch of expiring contracts. There is a path for him to recoup a couple of late-round picks during the offseason.

The fit on the field is clear. Downs is a really good slot receiver, and he would give the Rams something they need.

Wide receiver Puka Nacua can line up in the slot or on the outside, and he does a little bit of everything. Davante Adams is most likely out for the remainder of the season, which leaves Los Angeles without a true proven pass catcher outside of Nacua.

The Rams brought back Tutu Atwell at the beginning of the year, but how much of a return have they really gotten? Nacua is at his best when defenses have an additional player to worry about. Quarterback Matthew Stafford could also use that extra dump-off option within this offense.

Los Angeles has won a couple straight after a rocky start, and this is a franchise that is always going to go for it. The Rams have been about as all-in as a team can be. You can’t push that many chips to the middle and then start to get cautious because the season didn’t go exactly as planned. They are already too deep in to stop now.

So why not continue to double down?

Is a fourth-round pick too low for Downs?

The fourth-round price is a pretty cheap deal. It honestly came as a shock, and I expected it to take more. Something like a third-round pick, possibly with a late-round 2028 pick thrown in, felt closer to the right number.

Downs’ contract situation is a big part of the problem. With his deal up, the Colts have to ask themselves some hard questions. Indianapolis has major uncertainty about who the general manager and head coach are going to be. Would that new regime even want to bring Downs back? And if not, is something around the 130th pick enough to make the Colts pull the trigger?

That pick feels really low for a player with Downs’ capability. However, Indianapolis is in an odd spot. The Colts have already traded away a couple of really good players and captains, and moving another piece would fit that pattern.

If the price really is a fourth, the Rams should be the first team on the phone. Indianapolis will have to decide whether that return is worth it, or whether Downs is worth keeping around while the front office and coaching situation gets sorted out.