DeForest Buckner is heading back to the San Francisco 49ers, with the Indianapolis Colts trading the three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle for a 2027 fourth-round pick, the Colts have confirmed.
The Ringer’s Tom Pelissero reported the deal on Tuesday (US time), and ESPN and NFL Network also reported it. The Colts then confirmed the trade on Tuesday afternoon (US time), saying Buckner “returns to the 49ers, who selected him with the seventh overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.”
It is the Colts’ second big trade in a matter of hours, after they sent eight-time Pro Bowl guard Quenton Nelson to the Seattle Seahawks earlier on Tuesday (US time).
A reunion in San Francisco
The 49ers drafted Buckner with the seventh pick in the 2016 draft, and he started all 63 games he played for the club across four seasons, finishing with 28.5 sacks.
His last game for San Francisco was the Super Bowl LIV loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, before the 49ers traded him to Indianapolis in March 2020 for the 13th pick in that year’s draft.
Read more: San Francisco 49ers trade DeForest Buckner to the Colts
Why the 49ers made the move
San Francisco are 6-1 and heading into their bye week after a loss to the Atlanta Falcons, and their pass rush has been without Nick Bosa. Pro Football Rumors reported the 49ers have also lost defensive tackles Alfred Collins (patellar tendon) and CJ West (knee) to injury.
The 32-year-old Buckner had 31 tackles, four sacks and eight quarterback hits for Indianapolis this season. He is in the final year of his contract on a $13 million base salary, and Pelissero reported the 49ers will pay the remaining $7.944 million.
Read more: NFL Week 7 Results: Chiefs, 49ers Lose Unbeaten Records
Colts fire sale continues
Indianapolis are 2-5 and fired general manager Chris Ballard earlier this month. ESPN reported on Sunday that the 49ers were one team that could make a run at Buckner, who is due to become a free agent in 2027.
Interim general manager Ed Dodds now has two weeks until the November 10 (US time) trade deadline. Pro Football Rumors named running back Jonathan Taylor, receiver Josh Downs and defensive tackle Grover Stewart as other Colts who could be moved.
More News
