Bills Draft Watch: UNC WR Josh Downs Strengthens Slot?

Former North Carolina slot receiver Josh Downs projects as one of the top players at this position heading into the 2023 NFL Draft. Should the Buffalo Bills snag him?

Despite capturing their third straight AFC East title, the Buffalo Bills fell short of expectations in 2022. 

If receiver Stefon Diggs’ unceremonious exit from the locker room following the Bills' divisional round loss to the Cincinnati Bengals wasn’t enough to adequately demonstrate their frustration, perhaps the mere 10 points they put up in their final game of the season best tells the tale.  

The Bills need a play-making pass-catcher to help facilitate quarterback Josh Allen’s effectiveness in the passing game, as well as taking the pressure off Diggs.

As such, they may be smart to look for such help in the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft. 

Enter North Carolina Tar Heels product and slot receiver extraordinaire, Josh Downs. 

The junior wideout is being touted as one of this draft classes’ top receiving prospects. In his final season with the Tar Heels, Downs caught 94 passes for 1,029 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also averaged 10.9 yards-per-catch, showcasing his ability to keep the chains moving when most needed.  

Though Downs has been praised for his above-average route-running capabilities, he can be an effective receiver in both short and long-yardage plays as well. His athleticism makes him most impactful out of the slot. However, he is also quite adept at making contested catches, having caught 72 percent of the passes for which he needed to fight to secure.

While his 5-10, 171-pound frame may fail to physically intimidate his opponent, Downs plays with the same toughness and tenacity as most of his sizable peers at the position.  

Across the national landscape, Downs projects as an early-to-mid second-round selection in the upcoming draft. That leaves the Bills with a bit of a conundrum, should they choose to pursue him. Currently holding the 27th pick, Buffalo may be tempted to invest its first-round capital at a more pressing area of need. 

Still, the potential departure via free agency of either Cole Beasley or Jamison Crowder leaves a void in the team’s receiving corps. Though he flashed on occasion, Isaiah McKenzie had his share of struggles for much of the season. Consequently, the Bills may find themselves in need of a slot weapon, and Downs has the potential to fill that role. 

The question remains as to whether the 27th selection is a bit too rich for Buffalo’s blood. After all, Downs is unlikely to still be available when the Bills pick next at No. 59 in the second round.   

In fact, FanSided’s Buffalowdown even suggested that the Bills trade down to secure his services in the more palatable early part of the second round.

Regardless of their investment of draft capital, it is almost a certainty that Bills general manager Brandon Beane is taking a deep look at Downs as a potential solution to the team’s need at receiver.

Though the risk may be notable, the chance to pair a dynamic slot talent like Downs with a star veteran like Diggs might be too great of a reward to ignore. 

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Follow Mike D’Abate on Twitter @mdabateNFL.

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