Josh Downs quickly became Sam Howell’s top target in 2021, showing his full NFL potential on a real-time display. Howell said that Downs is the best receiver he’s ever played with. His real issue is size, as it will limit him exclusively to the slot at the next level. Downs lined up all across the formation, at slot receiver, Z receiver, and running back while at North Carolina. 

I don’t think there’s too much to Downs and his upside. Downs is already as athletic and fast as he’s going to be, he’s not going to become a stronger run blocker, and his size limits his catch strength through contact. There isn’t a lot there that’s going to get much better so I think Downs is a “what-you-see-is-what-you-get” type of prospect. 

IF the #Browns go wide receiver at #42 North Carolina’s Josh Downs has to be the choice he has the speed and separation ability the team desperately needs to add to their offense not to mention he can play in the slot. pic.twitter.com/qIgTWdsbwr

— Tyler Johnson (@T_johnson_TJ) February 24, 2023

Missed two games in 2022 with a knee injury. 

Josh Downs’ scouting report

Athletic Ability (25)

Speed/Athleticism: 15 

• Speed (6/7)  – Excellent speed. Very quick and fluid athlete. Very difficult to gage just how fast he is on the field. 
• Change of Direction (3.5/4) – Change of direction is pretty good, overall. 
• Body Control (3/4) – Body control is pretty good. 

Explosiveness/Burst: 10 

• Acceleration (4/5) – Acceleration is good and gets to top speed quickly. 
• Explosion (4/5) – Very explosive receiver. 

Receiver Technique (25)

Route Running: 15 

• Footwork (5.5/7) – Tends to round his routes out through breaks. Shows good timing route ability. 
• Route Tree (4.5/5) – Ran a very detailed and nuanced route tree at North Carolina. Showed the ability to run routes from several spots on the field. 
• Nuances (2.5/3) – Very nuanced route runner. Technical in his approach.

Release/Flexibility: 10 

• Release Ability (3.5/5) – Decent release ability, will struggle to work through contact and jam techniques. Has good quickness where he can find ways to win with his misdirection off the line of scrimmage. 
• Sideline Work (3.5/5) – Does a good job making sure he gets down inbounds. 

Catching Ability (20)

Catch Ability: 15 

• Natural Catch Ability (7.5/10) – Shows good hands for the most part. Doesn’t have a lot of length to create a stronger catch radius.
• Consistency (3/5) – Struggles with concentration drops too much. Suffered ten drops in 2021 but got it down to 3 in 2022. 

Contested Catch Ability: 5 

• Catch Through Contact (2.5/5) – Will have to be an exclusive receiver in space. Doesn’t show much ability to catch through contact. 

Schematics (25)

Deep Threat/Red Zone: 5 

• Deep Threat Rating (2/2) – Does a phenomenal job tracking the football deep. 
• Red Zone Rating (2/3) – Made some plays in the red zone with his explosiveness taking advantage of lesser defenders. Overall isn’t going to be so much of a factor there. 

Run After Catch: 15 

• Field Vision (3.5/5) – Decent field vision, nothing super special. 
• Creativity (3.5/5) – Decently creative, just isn’t game-changing. 
• Strength (2.5/5) – Not very strong after the catch. Will have to make defenders miss. 

Run Blocking: 5 

• Strength (1/2) – Not a strong run blocker. Struggles to even land the block. 
• Consistency (1.5/3) – Average run blocker overall for the slot position. 

Overall: (75) – 3rd/4th Round