49ers Reunite With DeForest Buckner in Trade With Colts for Fourth Round Pick

49ers Acquire Defensive Tackle to Bolster Injury Depleted Defense

The San Francisco 49ers are bringing back a familiar face, acquiring three time Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner from the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for a 2027 fourth round draft pick on Tuesday. The trade marks a reunion between Buckner and the 49ers, who originally selected him with the seventh overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.

San Francisco traded him to Indianapolis in 2020, a decision general manager John Lynch later described as the most difficult of his 10 year tenure. Six years later, Lynch has brought the veteran defensive tackle back to the Bay Area as the 49ers pursue another Super Bowl title. Buckner’s arrival addresses a pressing need for San Francisco, which has struggled to generate consistent quarterback pressure while dealing with a series of injuries along its defensive front.

The 49ers recorded pressure on Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. on just three of his 34 dropbacks in their loss to Atlanta, underscoring the urgency behind the move. The acquisition also comes as San Francisco, which sits at 6-1, continues to operate in win-now mode with championship aspirations.

Buckner Returns to 49ers After Six Seasons in Indianapolis

Buckner, 32, has remained a productive force throughout his time with the Colts, recording four sacks this season. That total leads the 49ers through seven weeks and is tied with Adetomiwa Adebawore for the team lead in Indianapolis. The veteran defensive tackle is expected to start alongside Osa Odighizuwa in the interior of San Francisco’s defensive line.

His experience, strength and ability to disrupt opposing quarterbacks should provide an immediate boost to a unit that has struggled to create pressure without relying heavily on blitzes. The 49ers have spent much of the season without several key defensive linemen, including tackles Alfred Collins, who is recovering from a patellar tendon injury; C.J. West, who has a knee injury; and James Thompson Jr., who is dealing with an ankle injury.

Defensive ends Nick Bosa, sidelined by a calf injury, and Sam Okuayinonu have also been unavailable. With so many moving pieces along the defensive front, Buckner’s return gives San Francisco an established presence who can help stabilize the rotation and improve its ability to pressure quarterbacks.

Colts Trade Veteran Defensive Tackle Ahead of Free Agency

For Indianapolis, the decision to trade Buckner brings a fourth-round selection in the 2027 NFL Draft in exchange for a player entering the final year of his contract. Buckner is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent after the season. Had he departed in free agency next offseason, the Colts could have received, at most, a 2028 fifth-round compensatory pick because of his status as an 11-year NFL veteran.

Instead, Indianapolis secured a fourth-round selection a year earlier, providing the franchise with an additional asset as it continues to reshape its roster. The move follows another significant trade by the Colts on Tuesday, when they sent eight-time Pro Bowl guard Quenton Nelson to the Seattle Seahawks. Both deals send established Indianapolis veterans to NFC West contenders.

Buckner had remained committed to the Colts through multiple contract extensions and repeated late season disappointments. He continued to express faith in the organization’s roster-building approach under former general manager Chris Ballard, who was recently fired. However, Buckner was visibly frustrated following Indianapolis’ third consecutive loss, a defeat against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. His departure now closes his chapter with the Colts and gives him another opportunity to compete for a championship.

49ers Add Another Familiar Face in Super Bowl Push

Buckner joins a growing list of former 49ers who have returned to San Francisco in pursuit of a championship. Wide receiver Deebo Samuel and linebacker Dre Greenlaw are among the key players who previously left the organization before making their way back to the Bay Area.

For Lynch, the Buckner reunion carries particular significance given his past comments about the difficulty of trading the defensive tackle in 2020. The move also reflects San Francisco’s immediate need to strengthen its defensive front rather than wait for injured players to return.

With four sacks already this season, Buckner brings proven production and familiarity with the organization. His presence alongside Odighizuwa could help restore pressure from the interior while easing the burden on a defense that has struggled to consistently disrupt opposing passing attacks.

The 49ers have established themselves as contenders at 6-1, but their defensive injuries have created a challenge as the season progresses. Reacquiring Buckner gives San Francisco a proven veteran and another opportunity to reinforce its championship ambitions. For Buckner, the trade represents a return to the franchise where his NFL career began and a chance to help the 49ers pursue the Super Bowl success that has remained their ultimate goal.