Josh Downs was drafted No. 79 overall by the Indianapolis Colts in the 2023 NFL Draft out of North Carolina. 47 regular-season games · 2 seasons as a starter · 19 career approximate value
2023 NFL Draft · Rd 3, Pick 16 · #79 overall
Josh Downs North Carolina Draft
Josh Downs was drafted No. 79 overall by the Indianapolis Colts in the 2023 NFL Draft out of North Carolina. 47 regular-season games · 2 seasons as a starter · 19 career approximate value
- Overall pick
- #79
- Round
- 3
- Draft class
- 2023
- NFL games
- 47
- Years as starter
- 2
- Career AV
- 1955th at North Carolina
The pick
How Josh Downs came off the board in 2023.
- Position
- Wide receiver WR
- College
-
North Carolina
ACC at the draft
- Measurables
- 5'9" · 171 lbs
- Hometown
- Suwanee, GA
- Pre-draft board
- No. 63 prospect79.0 grade
- Side of the ball
- Offense
NFL career
47 regular-season games · 2 seasons as a starter · 19 career approximate value
- Games played
- 47
- Seasons as a starter
- 2
- Career approximate value
- 1955th among North Carolina picks
- AV with the drafting club
- 19100% of career value
- Final season
- 20252 years after the draft
Around pick 79
Who came off the board on either side of Josh Downs.
Tennessee · 1× Pro Bowl
South Dakota State
Oregon
Tulane
North Carolina in the 2023 draft
Teammates who went in the same class.
Other WR picks from North Carolina
The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
Josh Downs in the 2023 NFL Draft
Josh Downs is a Wide receiver out of North Carolina selected No. 79 overall by the Indianapolis Colts in the 2023 NFL Draft. 47 regular-season games · 2 seasons as a starter · 19 career approximate value North Carolina has produced 154 NFL draft picks since 1980.
Where this data comes from
Pick order and career outcomes come from the nflverse draft archive; position, measurables, and conference at the time of the draft come from the college feed. Career columns stay empty until a player logs regular-season snaps.
Frequently asked questions
Where was Josh Downs drafted?
Josh Downs was selected No. 79 overall by the Indianapolis Colts in the 2023 NFL Draft (Rd 3, Pick 16). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/2023/josh-downs.
What college did Josh Downs play for?
Josh Downs played college football at North Carolina in the ACC. See every North Carolina draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/north-carolina-tar-heels.
How did Josh Downs's NFL career turn out?
47 regular-season games · 2 seasons as a starter · 19 career approximate value Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/2023/josh-downs.