Stunner: 49ers trade DeForest Buckner to Colts for a draft pick
The 49ers on Monday made a stunning move with one of their best young defensive players.
San Francisco, moments after announcing the five-year contract for Arik Armstead, traded Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to the Indianapolis Colts for the No. 13 pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, a league source confirmed to The Bee.
Buckner, who turns 26 Tuesday, is expected to sign one of the richest contracts for his position in NFL history with Indianapolis, which San Francisco would have struggled to fit in its complex salary cap structure. Initial reports indicate the deal will pay him $21 million annually making him the second highest paid defensive tackle in the league behind Aaron Donald.
By trading their budding star, the 49ers get a premium choice early in the draft that could allow them to find a difference-maker on a rookie contract. Their cap space this offseason is at a premium, particularly after giving Armstead $85 million over the next five seasons and needing to give star tight end George Kittle an extension. The 49ers entered the week with some $17 million in cap space.
Buckner has been one of the most reliable defensive linemen in the NFL since he was drafted out of Oregon with the No. 7 pick in 2016. He has missed just one game in four seasons. He has 19.5 sacks in the last two.
Bucknner was also one of the team’s most respected players. He was a team captain and voted by coaches the most recent recipient of the Bill Walsh Award voted on by coaches for professional excellence. Buckner had 2.5 sacks and 12 combined tackles in the playoffs, including 1.5 sacks in the Super Bowl.
The trade gives San Francisco two first-round draft choices and flexibility in the upcoming draft. They don’t have picks in rounds 2 through 4.
Teams are not permitted to officially announce trades until the start of the new league year on Wednesday.
This story was originally published March 16, 2020 at 1:14 PM.
