A familiar face is headed back to Santa Clara. On Tuesday, Oct. 27, the 49ers acquired defensive tackle DeForest Buckner from the Indianapolis Colts for the team's 2027 fourth-round pick. The 49ers released cornerback Jack Jones to open a roster spot.
The homecoming
San Francisco took Buckner seventh overall in the 2016 draft, and he played four seasons for the team (2016-19). CBS News Bay Area notes he was a key part of the rebuild that began when Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch took over in 2017, and he helped the 49ers reach the Super Bowl. The 49ers traded him to Indianapolis the next offseason. The Colts say they gave up a first-round pick in 2020 to get him.
What he brings
The Colts say Buckner has four sacks in the first seven games of 2026. Over his seven seasons in Indianapolis he had 47 sacks and 122 quarterback hits. The 49ers count 158 games (153 starts), 682 tackles and 75.5 sacks over his career. He was a first-team AP All-Pro in 2020. The Colts also say he came back from season-ending neck surgery on New Year's Eve 2025.
CBS reports that Buckner joins Osa Odighizuwa and rookie Gracen Halton on the interior of the line. San Francisco lost Alfred Collins to a season-ending knee injury and is also without C.J. West.
The other side
The 2-5 Colts are selling. They fired general manager Chris Ballard last week, and on the same Tuesday they also traded guard Quenton Nelson to Seattle. CBS points out that Buckner and Nelson could meet again when the 49ers host the Seahawks in Week 12.