Evaluation
Ryland B.: The first thing that stands out when watching Downs is his acceleration. He’s lightning-fast off the snap with elite change of direction ability. He might be the quickest receiver in this class, and his long speed isn’t bad, either. However, despite Downs’ impressive agility, he isn’t always the greatest separator on tape. His route running can get a little lazy at times, and his lack of physicality is alarming. He isn’t the biggest guy in the first place, and he often shies away from contact when getting RAC. He struggles when it comes to press coverage and being guarded by physical corners, and he’s a very poor blocker. His hands are solid but he can struggle with concentration, and his body language post-drop isn’t great. If this scouting report sounds a little familiar, you aren’t the only one. Downs reminds me a lot of current Steeler Diontae Johnson in both strengths and weaknesses. As a result, the North Carolina product has a lot of upside as a pro, but his downsides could be seen as red flags.