Colts Trade Second Franchise Cornerstone In Same Day

The NFL's trade deadline isn't for another couple of weeks, but the Indianapolis Colts aren't done making franchise-altering moves on a random Tuesday.

On Mon., Oct. 19, the Colts fired general manager Chris Ballard, signaling a possible rebuild. The following week, on Tues., Oct. 27, the Colts traded eight-time Pro Bowl guard Quenton Nelson to the Seattle Seahawks, leaving no doubt that change was underway.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Colts pulled off another huge trade, sending defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for a 2027 fourth-round draft pick. The move also clears $7.9 million off the Colts' salary cap, according to Spotrac.

Buckner is in the final year of a two-year, $46 million extension that he signed with the Colts during the 2024 offseason. He now returns to the team that drafted him in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft. The 49ers traded Buckner to the Colts in 2020 for a first-round pick.

Buckner struggled through injuries in the first two seasons since signing the deal, missing 12 games with ankle and neck injuries, but has rebounded in 2026 to play some of the best football of his career.

Through seven games, Buckner is tied for the team lead in sacks (4.0) and leads the team in tackles for loss (5) and fumble recoveries (1). He also has 31 tackles, 8 QB hits, and 3 pass breakups.

In 95 career games with the Colts, Buckner totaled 420 tackles (63 for loss), 47.0 sacks, 122 QB hits, 6 forced fumbles, 4 fumbles recovered, 20 pass breakups, 1 safety, and 1 defensive touchdown.

With Buckner now out of the picture, it will likely be Adetomiwa Adebawore starting at the three-technique tackle spot. He's tied with Buckner for the team lead in sacks (4.0), and also has 17 tackles (4 for loss), 8 QB hits, and 1 pass breakup.

Adebawore is also in the final year of his rookie contract.

The Colts are now projected to have the following picks in the 2027 and 2028 drafts:

The Colts do not have a 2027 first-round pick as a result of trading for former New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner last season. The Colts traded their original 2027 sixth-round pick to the Buffalo Bills this summer for center Sedrick Van Pran-Granger and a seventh-round pick.