Former UNC Star Traded to Chiefs at NFL Trade Deadline

The North Carolina Tar Heels are seeing one of their former stars be moved at the NFL trade deadline as the Indianapolis Colts are sending wide receiver Josh Downs and a seventh-round pick to the Kansas City Chiefs for a fourth- and fifth-round pick.

Downs played three seasons with the Tar Heels and had a great career, leading to his selection by the Colts in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

In his freshman season, he appeared in 10 games, catching seven passes for 119 yards and three touchdowns. He had a larger role in the 2021 season for North Carolina, hauling in 101 receptions for 1,335 yards and eight touchdowns. 

Downs played at a high level again in his junior campaign, catching 94 passes for 1,029 yards and 11 touchdowns. He proved to be a reliable weapon in the Tar Heels' offense in 2021 and 2022.

The 25-year-old wideout has been solid in the NFL, but hasn't posted the same numbers. In his rookie season with Indianapolis, he had 68 receptions for 771 yards and two touchdowns. In 2024, he had 72 receptions for 803 yards and five touchdowns.

Downs' numbers dipped in the 2025 season, as he had 58 receptions for 566 yards and four touchdowns. In 2026, he has 33 receptions for 354 yards and one touchdown thus far.

Those numbers should only go up for the remainder of the season, as Downs is joining a talented offense with Patrick Mahomes leading the way. Mahomes is one of the best passers in the NFL, but Kansas City hasn't had the best array of weapons outside of star running back Kenneth Walker.

Downs will likely be one of the top receivers for Mahomes to target down the stretch as the Chiefs look to contend for a Super Bowl. 

The Tar Heels haven't developed many receivers who have gone on to the NFL in recent years, but Downs is proving to be one of their best former players.

North Carolina is currently in the middle of a strong season, as they hold a 5-4 record in Bill Belichick's second season as the head coach. If the Tar Heels continue to get better under Belichick, they could develop more talent that goes on to be successful in the NFL.

Belichick and North Carolina will look to finish their season strong, while their former star wide receiver will look to have a great end to the season with his new team and compete for a Super Bowl title.