Colts' Fire Sale Continues As Indianapolis Trades Dt Deforest Buckner Back To 49ers

You can go home again − especially if your weekend getaway is in flames.

The Indianapolis Colts continued their fire sale on Tuesday, Oct. 27, agreeing to trade three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to the San Francisco 49ers, his original team. The Colts announced they are getting a 2027 fourth-round draft pick in return for Buckner, who is in the final year of his current contract.

Niners tight end George Kittle, a teammate of Buckner's in San Francisco from 2017 through '19 − their final season together concluding with a trip to Super Bowl 54 − celebrated news of the reunion on X.

DEFOOOOO THE BOYS ARE BACK @DeForestBuckner@JuiceCheck44@49erspic.twitter.com/jUoMNJ96Dx

— George Kittle (@gkittle46) October 27, 2026

San Francisco somewhat surprisingly exported Buckner following that Super Bowl heartbreaker, a 31-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, though it was also very much a financial decision at the time − Buckner, the seventh overall pick of the 2016 draft, in line for a huge payday as he neared the end of his rookie contract. The Colts surrendered the 13th overall selection of the 2020 draft to secure him and quickly locked him up with a four-year, $84 million extension.

Buckner has 75½ career sacks in 11 NFL seasons, an impressive number for an interior lineman, including four through seven games in 2026. He has 312 pressures since coming to Indianapolis. He hasn't been as good against the run this season for a largely beleaguered unit, but it seems probable he'll play fewer snaps for San Francisco with a focus on passing downs.

What DeForest Buckner trade means for Colts

Earlier Tuesday, Indianapolis dealt perennial All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson, who is also in a walk year, to the Seattle Seahawks. Buckner has now joined his fellow lineman as an ex-Colt as the team begins spinning off its assets in earnest a week after longtime general manager Chris Ballard was fired.

The Colts still have no first-round pick for next year's highly anticipated draft after Ballard offloaded it as part of a package to the New York Jets last November in order to acquire Pro Bowl corner Sauce Gardner. But they have now added a Round 3 and Round 4 pick for next year, plus a fifth-rounder in 2028, by virtue of Tuesday's deals.

And interim GM Ed Dodds, who clearly has the blessing (or maybe marching orders from co-owner and CEO Carlie Irsay-Gordon), might not be done. Pro Bowl running back Jonathan Taylor could be the prize ahead of this year's trade deadline, which falls on Nov 10, if the Colts opt to move him, too. Wideout Josh Downs and D-tackle Grover Stewart, who are also on expiring contracts, could also be deadline targets for other teams.

What DeForest Buckner trade means for 49ers

He may be 32, but Buckner is a capable and relatively healthy body − something that's been in short supply for the NFC West leaders recently. He's also a natural cultural fit given how he thrived in his first stint under GM John Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan. Veterans like Kittle, fullback Kyle Juszczyk, receiver Deebo Samuel and defensive end Nick Bosa should welcome him back into the locker room with open arms.

Shanahan's best teams have always rolled deep on the D-line, so Bucker is an especially welcome addition at a time when Bosa is hurt and after Alfred Collins suffered a season-ending knee injury during the team's trip to Australia at the start of the season. Mykel Williams, the team's first-round pick in 2025, only recently returned to the lineup after a torn ACL prematurely ended his rookie season.

After suffering its first loss of the season Sunday in Atlanta, San Francisco is off during Week 8, giving Buckner extra time to acclimate to his new circumstances.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Colts' fire sale continues as Indianapolis trades DT DeForest Buckner back to 49ers