Breaking: Colts Hold Firm on DeForest Buckner Amid Trade Speculation
Despite receiving trade interest from his former team, DeForest Buckner appears likely to finish out this season with the Indianapolis Colts.
Per The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, the Colts have told inquiring teams they aren’t moving the three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle before Tuesday’s trade deadline.
Russini reported on Oct. 26 that Buckner was among the trade targets being discussed by the San Francisco 49ers, but there was no indication at that point the Colts were looking to deal him.
The 49ers need help along their defensive line, particularly on the interior. Javon Hargrave is out for the season after suffering a partially torn triceps in a Week 3 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
Yetur Gross-Matos, who plays both the interior and on the outside, has been on injured reserve since Oct. 5. Head coach Kyle Shanahan is hopeful he will be able to return soon after the team’s Week 9 bye.
Even if the 49ers get Gross-Matos back fairly soon, they could use another interior player who can get pressure on the quarterback and cover gaps in run defense.
Buckner always seemed like the type of addition the 49ers could make in an ideal scenario. He is familiar with their defensive philosophy after spending the first four years of his career in San Francisco.
Even though the 49ers have gone through four defensive coordinators since Buckner was traded to Indianapolis in March 2020, their main principles from back when Robert Saleh was in charge of that side of the ball still apply under first-year coordinator Nick Sorensen.
On top of the Colts’ apparent lack of interest in trading Buckner, his $13 million base salary in 2025 could have been an obstacle for a 49ers team that already has several expensive contracts on the books and plans to give Brock Purdy a new deal when he’s eligible in the offseason.
The 49ers have been one of the more aggressive teams at the trade deadline in recent years, dealing for Christian McCaffrey and Chase Young in the past two years. It wouldn’t be a surprise if that trend continues, but it might not be for a player of Buckner’s stature.
