The Indianapolis Colts traded defensive tackle DeForest Buckner back to the San Francisco 49ers on Tuesday for a 2027 fourth-round pick, hours after moving Quenton Nelson.
As of Oct. 28, 2026, 9:53 AM PT. Facts checked against the sources listed below.
A homecoming
San Francisco took Buckner seventh overall in 2016. Indianapolis acquired him in 2020 for a first-round pick. In seven seasons with the Colts he had 47 sacks, 122 quarterback hits, 63 tackles for loss and six forced fumbles in 95 games, according to Colts.com. He was first-team All-Pro in 2020.
He is 32 and came back from season-ending neck surgery late last year to post four sacks in the first seven games this season. Yahoo Sports reports he is in the final year of his deal and is owed a little under $8 million for the rest of the season, with $10.8 million in dead money left on the Colts' books per Over the Cap.
Why it matters for the 49ers
San Francisco is 6-1 and on its bye after losing 29-20 in Atlanta. Injuries have been the story of the Niners' season, and the defensive front is where help was needed. General manager John Lynch said Tuesday the team expects Nick Bosa back from a calf injury after the bye, per Yahoo. Bosa hasn't played since getting hurt in practice before Week 3.
If both play, the 49ers come out of the break against the Raiders in Week 9 with Bosa and Buckner on the same line. That's a meaningful upgrade for a team that needs its defense to carry it while the injury list sorts itself out.
Indy's reset
For the Colts, this is the second move in a day as interim GM Ed Dodds starts the rebuild after Chris Ballard's firing. Indianapolis is 2-5 and has lost three straight. Between the two trades it picked up 2027 third- and fourth-round picks and a 2028 fifth.
A fourth-round pick for a player of Buckner's track record is a modest price. That's what happens when the seller is clearly looking to the future and the player is on an expiring contract.
Related: Colts trade Quenton Nelson to the Seahawks · Falcons hand the 49ers their first loss, 29-20
