Josh “Touch” Downs – University of North Carolina

First Round Mock NFL Draft Analyst William Yanish doesn’t hold back as his love for North Carolina wide receiver Josh Downs is written all over his latest evaluation.

Consistently over the years, the NFL has put a premium on size.

This has been especially true at the position of wide receivers (WR). The only trait I ever put a premium on is the size of a players’ heart.

My all-time WR1 went by the nickname “Smitty.” Everyone knows him as former Panthers’ receiver Steve Smith Sr.

There was nothing like watching the 5’9″ 195-pound Smith dragging multiple defenders to the chains – – and that was his regular thing. Double and triple coverage couldn’t stop Smitty from doing what he did and achieving the triple crown for receivers in 2005.

In his prime, he was the best. Ever.

That was then and this is now

That brings us to Josh Downs.

When I first got serious about this writing thing, I caught a few clips of this 5’10” 175-pound WR out of the University of North Carolina, and I was compelled to keep watching.

I have never witnessed a receiver explode off the line like Downs

He does it so smoothly, and as soon as the ball is snapped, he already has a step on everyone.

Downs is the best WR in the 2023 draft class. Period.

Those are some big words from a first year NFL Draft analyst who’s been told that my evaluations aren’t believable. I’ve been told that I was looking for headlines. I have gone so far to even disagree with my Editor-in-Chief at First Round Mock, Daniel Kelly, who just happens to be a Bill Parcells/Bill Belichick pupil.

Not on this one, though. We both love Downs.

I don’t mind name dropping. I mean wouldn’t you? I’m in good company.

Don’t even try to compare Quentin Johnston (who is 6 inches taller and 40 pounds heavier) to this elite North Carolina talent. Johnston is lazy.

Downs lays it all out on a game-by-game basis

What makes Downs great is on the film. It beats inside his chest. That is what counts.

Downs can line up anywhere on the field contrary to the people who say he is too small, but that’s simply not true.

Who will win the lottery with Downs?

It would be insane if this future superstar dropped to the bottom half of the first-round and ended up on Buffalo or Kansas City. I don’t think Downs gets out of the top-15.

According to NFL Mock Draft Database, he is the consensus 39th overall player, and has a 41.6% chance of going in the first round.

Last season, with Sam Howell as quarterback, Downs had 101 catches, 1,335 yards, and eight touchdowns. This year, with Drake Maye throwing, he had 94 catches, 1,029 yards, and 11 touchdowns.

It doesn’t matter who is throwing the ball, he dominates.

He will make the players around him better. He will make his whole team better.

I would want him on my team any day of the week, and twice on Sunday.

What the game film says…

Downs is an explosive athlete with out-of-this-world ability to change direction on a dime and shake defenders.

The quick-twitch ability he shows is off-the-charts.

He is an excellent route runner with the ability to change direction on a dime.

Strong hands – – he doesn’t drop too many passes.

He can also take the top off a defense.

No question, defensive coordinators will lose sleep trying to defend him.

Blocking is a concern and he can get knocked off his routes due to his smaller stature.

NFL bloodlines

He is a coach’s son and brings NFL bloodlines to the table. His father, Gary, was a running back for seven years in the NFL and he is now the Recruiting Coordinator and Running backs Coach for East Tennessee State University.

His uncle, Dre Bly, played 11 seasons in the NFL, and is now the Cornerbacks Coach for the University of North Carolina.

My BIG three questions

1. Will he go to a WR needy team, or one that already has a true WR1?
2. Will he get paired with a franchise quarterback right away?
3. Will he be able to hit the 4.2 mark in the 40-yard-dash, and crush his draft status?

How Downs stacks up and game film reviewed

Draft Projection: First-Round (top 15) WR1

Pro comparison: Tyreek Hill

Game film evaluated:

Virginia Tech ‘21

Virginia ‘21

Florida A&M ‘22

Miami ‘22

The author, William Yanish, has been a football fan since he was knee high to a grasshopper. He played football until his body wouldn’t let him any longer at the tender young age of 17. He is an aspiring sports writer and author, who covers the NFL Draft for firstroundmock.com. Yanish attended Colorado Mesa University on the western slope of Colorado.