Reggie Wayne: Josh Downs Was the Player Colts Were Missing

Josh Downs wasn't picked until the third round of April's NFL Draft, but for his new position coach, Reggie Wayne, he might've been the best receiver in the entire draft — at least he was at the Scouting Combine, Wayne says.

The Indianapolis Colts' decision makers listened to Wayne's words and took a chance on the 5'9", 171-pound Downs, who's much smaller than the receivers the Colts normally covet.

"I thought he was the best receiver at the Combine," Wayne told reporters about Downs recently. "I just think the way he ran his routes were effortless. He was smooth. And actually what I saw at the Combine is not what I saw on tape. On tape, I kinda looked at him a little bit and things seemed controlled or whatever. At the Combine, you saw his speed, saw he can run.

"I'm not necessarily a little guy receiver — but also this draft was full of smaller guys — but he stood out. He stood out," Wayne continued. "I put an asterisk by his name and then I came in my office and I really dove deep and did my evaluations and I'm like, 'Man, this would be perfect if we had him in our offense.'"

Despite Downs' lack of size, he checks about every other box for the Colts, displaying good mechanics and knowledge of the game, and he's lightning quick, catches everything, and runs quality routes.

"That's what the whole process was all about. Interviewing him at the Combine and all that stuff and Zoom calls and different things, that's what jumped out at you, he's pretty smart," Wayne gushed. "He's been brought up with football in his life. His dad's a coach. He understands all the ins and outs. That's what you're looking for. You try and get a guy that can play and not only be successful but a guy that can catch on quick and go out and do it."

Downs joins a talented Colts wide receiver corps featuring Michael Pittman Jr., Alec Pierce, Isaiah McKenzie, and Ashton Dulin, with the room chocked full of size, speed, and athleticism but Downs' particular skill set is something the Colts still lacked.

"I do think as time goes on and on, you can put him outside at Z, put him in motion, move him around," Wayne said. "I think he's that type of player. He's the player I think we was missing. A guy who's agile, who's versatile. Guys who can win on option routes and different things of that sort. I think he was the right fit for us."

Despite all the buzz coming from inside and outside the building about Downs, he is still a rookie who will need some time to acclimate, but Wayne thinks he complements the group with Pittman and Pierce well.

"Not necessarily that he's plug-and-play but I do think he can complement those guys," Wayne acknowledged. "I think he has a skill set that we didn't have in the room. So he goes and fills that spot, and guys behind him can also do the same things."

Wayne then paid Downs arguably one of the greatest compliments that a future Hall-of-Famer can bestow upon a young receiver.

"I do think he'll help us win some games," Wayne said of Downs. "I do think he understands defenses and zones and man coverage and where to be and different outlets on how to get there, so I do think he's special in that way."

Whether or not Downs becomes a hit remains to be seen, but at least he's got his legendary coach in his corner.