49ers Trade for DeForest Buckner: Defensive Tackle Returns to SF

The San Francisco 49ers bolstered their defensive front by trading for Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner in exchange for a 2027 fourth-round draft pick, according to ESPN and NFL Network reports cited by DAZN and Touchdown Actu. The move marks a return to the franchise that originally drafted Buckner seventh overall out of Oregon in 2016.

The Colts Reshape Their Roster With Multiple Trades

Indianapolis executed two major trades in a single day, parting ways with both Buckner and guard Quenton Nelson, who was sent to the Seattle Seahawks in a deal that brought back a 2027 third-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick, according to Touchdown Actu. DAZN reported that the dual departures leave the Colts with eight total selections for the 2027 NFL Draft as the franchise amasses capital for an offseason reboot. Touchdown Actu noted that additional roster moves could follow before the trade deadline, with defensive tackle Grover Stewart and wide receiver Josh Downs listed among potential trade candidates.

San Francisco Targets Pass Rush Reinforcements

The 49ers stepped up their defensive acquisitions after a Week 7 performance that yielded zero sacks against opponents, highlighting inconsistencies in their pass rush. DAZN pointed out that Buckner arrives alongside earlier additions, including the March signing of Osa Odighizuwa from the Dallas Cowboys. At 32 years old, Buckner brings a career resume featuring 676 combined tackles, 73 sacks, and two touchdowns across tenures in San Francisco and Indianapolis. Touchdown Actu noted that he earned three Pro Bowl selections and a First-Team All-Pro nod in 2020.

Reuniting With Familiar Faces on the Defensive Line

Buckner rejoins a San Francisco front office and defensive unit where he spent his first four NFL seasons before his 2020 trade to Indianapolis for the 13th overall pick. DAZN noted that Buckner will anchor the interior until edge rusher Nick Bosa returns from injury in the coming weeks. Bosa and Buckner previously played together during Bosa’s 2019 rookie campaign. The veteran defensive tackle slots back into a defensive corps featuring Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw, giving defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen a heavily reinforced unit.

What Comes Next for Both Franchises

The Colts continue their roster teardown ahead of upcoming league deadlines while monitoring trade interest in remaining veteran assets. Meanwhile, the 49ers rely on his interior presence to stabilize a defensive front battered by injuries while awaiting Bosa’s return.