DeForest Buckner can finish job with 49ers after Colts trade
NBC Sports Bay Area & California • • sports
Key Points:
- The San Francisco 49ers have reacquired defensive tackle DeForest Buckner from the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for a 2027 fourth-round draft pick, pending a physical.
- Buckner, 32, originally played four seasons with the 49ers before being traded in 2020 following their Super Bowl LIV loss; he is signed through this season and will become a free agent in March.
- Buckner provides a boost to the 49ers’ run defense and pass rush, addressing recent struggles in pressuring opposing quarterbacks, as the team holds a 6-1 record and leads the NFC West.
- The trade follows the Colts' recent roster shakeup, including firing their general manager and trading guard Quenton Nelson to the Seahawks, and reflects Buckner’s frustration with the Colts’ underperformance.
- Buckner’s return complements the 49ers’ defensive line depth, with key players like Nick Bosa and CJ West expected back from injury after the bye week, as the team aims for its sixth Super Bowl title under Shanahan and Lynch.
