Yahoo Sports NFL 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... the Bills would, of course, prefer to send a fourth-round pick for Downs and initially reluctant to trade away a 2027 third-round selection for him... I think it'd make perfect sense for the Bills to ultimately decide to use that third-round selection for Downs.
STACKED’s take
Downs' $16.9M market value and comp-pick math support trading a 3rd-round pick for him.
Spotrac projects Downs to sign a four-year, $67M contract ($16.9M APY) in free agency next March. The source argues the Bills should trade a 2027 third-round pick for Downs before the deadline because: (1) if he produces and leaves, Buffalo nets a 2028 third or fourth-round compensatory pick, offsetting the trade cost; (2) if he produces and re-signs, the Bills get a core receiving piece at 26 years old with manageable cap structure; (3) if he produces modestly and leaves, Buffalo gets a fifth or sixth-round comp pick, a worst-case three-round drop that's worth the offensive upgrade; (4) if he produces modestly and re-signs, Buffalo gets a solid possession receiver at a bargain $10M–$14M APY (comparable to Khalil Shakir's $13.6M APY). The source emphasizes Downs' steadiness, fine 2026 start, and the quality of Buffalo's offense as reasons to project solid impact at minimum.
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