With two weeks before the 2026 NFL trade deadline, the Indianapolis Colts have decided to have themselves a "fire sale".
That doesn't mean literally everything must go, but the Colts have already said goodbye to left guard Quenton Nelson and defensive lineman DeForest Buckner, two of the best players they have in the trenches on either side of the ball.
Funny enough, they sent both of those players to NFC West teams. Nelson was sent to the Seattle Seahawks for a 3rd-round pick in 2027 and a 5th-round pick in 2028. Buckner was sent back to the San Francisco 49ers (who drafted him in 2016) for a 4th-round pick in 2027.
Those two moves have a significant impact on what is expected to be a tight NFC West race once again in 2026, but there is still one more team in the race for that division that has yet to benefit from the Colts' struggles: The Los Angeles Rams. And we've got the perfect fit for them...
Rams need to trade for Josh Downs as Colts begin to wheel and deal
The Los Angeles Rams recently placed star wide receiver Davante Adams on IR with a ruptured hamstring, and he's expected to miss 6-10 weeks. That's not a small issue and a situation where Adams will be back soon.
That's a significant injury to suffer in the middle of the season, as well as a really difficult injury for a wide receiver to come back from in-season.
Even with Adams possibly back for a playoff run, the Rams also have to consider that Puka Nacua has had his share of durability concerns in his NFL career. They simply can't bank on him also staying healthy for the duration of the season.
How about Josh Downs to the Los Angeles Rams?
We're certainly not the first to suggest it, but it does make a ton of sense.
Downs has 26 receptions for 307 yards so far this season, averaging a career-high 11.8 yards per reception. He's also in the final year of his rookie contract with a base salary under $4 million.
Even though Sean McVay and the Rams absolutely love to throw multiple tight ends on the field, maybe more than any other team in the NFL, they simply don't have the depth at the receiver position that they need with how good the rest of the division is.
They paid all that money to Matthew Stafford. They decided to forsake another offensive weapon in the 2026 NFL Draft. They are now facing the immediate consequences of that. Luckily for Les Snead, who never saw a trade he didn't like, a team like the Colts is open for business.
The Colts have already done their part to impact the NFC West race, but there is at least one more player to send to that division before the trade deadline.
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