Buffalo Rumblings on Josh Downs
From the article
Spotrac's current market value for Downs is $16.9 million per year. It projects him to sign a four-year, $67M contract in free agency next March, if he makes it there. With Downs on an expiring contract, the team he's on the end of 2026 NFL season would likely receive a fourth-round compensatory pick (and a third-rounder isn't out of the question) in 2028 for his departure.
STACKED’s take
Downs' $16.9M market value and compensatory pick math justify a third-round trade cost.
Spotrac's current market value for Downs is $16.9 million per year; he's projected to sign a four-year, $67M contract in free agency next March if he reaches it. On an expiring contract, the team trading for him would likely receive a fourth-round compensatory pick (potentially a third-rounder) in 2028 for his departure, setting a floor for trade value. The source argues that acquiring Downs on a third-round pick is justified because even in a worst-case scenario of solid-but-unspectacular production and a sixth-round compensatory pick return, amplifying the offense for the second half of the 2026 season and playoffs would be worth the three-round draft drop.
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