The Indianapolis Colts executed their second significant trade on Tuesday, sending defensive tackle DeForest Buckner back to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick in 2027.
Following the trade of Quenton Nelson to the Seattle Seahawks, the Colts (2-5) are evidently shifting their focus towards the future, aiming to gather additional draft picks while currently lacking a first-round selection for 2027.
Buckner returns to the 49ers, the organization that made him a first-round draft choice in 2016. He spent his initial four years with them before playing over the past six seasons with Indianapolis.
How does this transaction evaluate for both the Colts and the 49ers? Let’s examine the specifics:
Old acquaintance Buckner was an obvious fit for San Francisco
It wasn’t surprising to see Buckner reunite with the 49ers. This reunion was a logical move.
The 49ers never intended to trade Buckner initially; they viewed it as a painful yet unavoidable business decision. They could only afford to retain one of their star defensive tackles, whether Buckner or Arik Armstead, following their loss in Super Bowl LIV to the Kansas City Chiefs. Thus, Buckner was traded, Armstead secured a new contract, and the 49ers selected Javon Kinlaw in the draft.
Right after the trade, general manager John Lynch described it as “probably the toughest thing” he had done at that time. More than a year later, head coach Kyle Shanahan, before facing the Colts and Buckner in 2021, confessed that he “miss[ed] Buck a lot.” Though Kinlaw is a talented player, the 49ers eventually acknowledged that the Colts secured the superior player in that trade. The trade completed that cycle, in some respects.
The 49ers required defensive reinforcement in their front line, and Buckner seems like the ideal solution for that role inside. Osa Odighizuwa has generated some pressure, and rookie Gracen Halton has made notable contributions, but they are the only two Niners defensive tackles who have played in every game. Other dependable options inside were scarce, and the group lacked both length and a capacity to disrupt passing lanes. This season, Odighizuwa and Halton are the only ones on the team with batted passes.
They hope to get Nick Bosa back soon to bolster the edge group; however, his injury struggles over the last year raise doubts about his long-term reliability, particularly considering the 49ers’ poor injury luck.
DeForest Buckner spent four years with the 49ers, and now he’s back after a trade with the Colts.
(Michael Reaves via Getty Images)
Buckner possesses a well-rounded skill set that can elevate the entire defense. He is also likely to be a strong, respected presence in the locker room, even with many new faces since his last time wearing their colors.
He has missed more games in the last two seasons than at any point in his career; however, Buckner returned from an extensive offseason rehabilitation and has remained healthy this season, achieving high-level contributions in 2026. He’s accustomed to high snap counts and can handle virtually any technique along the line, even occasionally stepping up on the edge as a rusher.
With four sacks through seven games, he matches his total from the 2025 season (in 10 games), and Buckner leads the Niners with eight QB hits this season. He also has more batted passes (three) than the entire 49ers roster combined.
The defensive tackle rotation, previously lacking depth, now has three viable options, including Buckner, who offers more positional versatility than the others. With Bosa returning, this defensive front could once again become a significant strength.
The cost was right around what one might expect given that Buckner is 32 and scheduled for free agency, and it may leave the 49ers short on Day 3 selections next year, but the risk seems justified for a familiar and reliable player who should seamlessly reintegrate into his previous role.
Grade: A-
Colts are evidently in a fire sale, yet the trade was reasonable
The trade involving Quenton Nelson came as more of a surprise since he was an original Colt who had recently signed a significant contract, compared to Buckner, who had a shorter two-year deal following his trade acquisition. Regardless, both players were headed for free agency, and neither seemed particularly likely to return the following season.
The Colts made a sensible choice to gain whatever they could for those two players, even if it meant a short-term sacrifice of their offensive and defensive lines at a time when the team is floundering.
The returns they received were roughly what was anticipated, and considering their draft-pick situation is dire, lacking a first-round pick next season, every additional selection is invaluable. Even though the 2027 picks acquired for Nelson and Buckner are likely to be at the tail ends of their respective rounds, the Colts are building more assets to potentially trade for a quarterback next year. This strategy is wiser than waiting a year for compensatory-pick returns, despite the cost of rectifying past mistakes.
Buckner remains a formidable interior defender, but his prospects with the Colts seemed grim. It will also be intriguing to see if Grover Stewart, Buckner’s former teammate, is put on the trading block. Given how events unfolded on Tuesday, it wouldn’t be surprising for anyone to become available.
The Colts have lost significant toughness and leadership in this latest round of trades. They also parted with two highly dependable players in the trenches. Opportunities will arise for younger players to step up, aligning with the vision for these trades, but the fact remains that these actions were a necessary event considering the unfortunate quarterback situations and the previous season’s turmoil that followed an 8-2 start.
Now they will shift their focus to the draft and, with a clearer cap space, free agency to rebuild the team. While there is a significant gap in talent, there is also a lack of intangible qualities following the trades that occurred on Tuesday.
Grade: B-
