INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Colts are reportedly trading All-Pro defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to the San Fransisco 49ers. Colts receive a fourth round pick for the 2027 NFL Draft.
Buckner returns to the same team that drafted him in the first round back in 2016 before ultimately sending him to Indy in a 2020 trade.
The three-time Pro Bowler has been the leader of the Colts defense for the last seven seasons, averaging 7.3 sacks a season before this year. His best season came in 2023, where he amassed 81 tackles, eight sacks, and a fumble recovery.
Bucker’s season was cut short last year as he was dealing with a neck injury. The veteran had surgery to repair the injury at the start of the year before returning to the Colts determined to have a big season.
This is the second major trade the Colts made on the same day. Indy sent All-Pro offensive lineman Quenton Nelson to the Seahawks for a third and fifth round draft pick. After being teammates for seven seasons, Nelson and Buckner will now go against each other regularly in the NFC West battles between Seattle and San Francisco.
The Colts travel to Jacksonville this weekend to face the Jaguars on the road — a place Indy hasn’t won in 11 seasons.
