Colts continue talent selloff, sending DeForest Buckner to 49ers, while making the New York Jets happier
The Indianapolis Colts have traded defensive tackle DeForest Buckner back to the San Francisco 49ers for a 2027 fourth-round draft pick, pending a physical. The move is part of a broader sale of established players for future draft picks, suggesting the Colts are shifting attention away from salvaging their 2026 season.
Buckner returns to the team that drafted him in 2016 after recording 420 tackles and 47 sacks in six seasons with Indianapolis. The Colts also traded guard Quenton Nelson to Seattle on Tuesday, adding a 2027 third-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick; further deals may follow. A weaker Colts roster could also improve the position of the 2027 first-round pick previously sent to the New York Jets in the Sauce Gardner trade.
In short
- Buckner is returning to San Francisco for a 2027 fourth-round pick.
- Indianapolis also traded Quenton Nelson to Seattle.
- The Colts’ selloff could raise the value of the Jets’ 2027 pick.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Trading established players for future picks can be a sensible rebuild if the Colts judge that their current squad is unlikely to contend in 2026. Draft capital gives them opportunities to add younger, less expensive players and reshape the roster, while Buckner returns to a familiar team that may better match his remaining competitive window.
The case against
Moving proven starters such as Buckner and Nelson risks weakening the team and giving up on the 2026 season before its prospects are fully tested. Future picks are uncertain returns, and a broad selloff could damage continuity and fan confidence; the Colts may also be worsening the value of a 2027 first-round pick they owe the Jets.
Explained simply
The Indianapolis Colts are an American football team in the NFL, the league’s top professional competition. Teams build their squads through the draft, where they select eligible players, and can trade players and draft picks with one another.
DeForest Buckner is a defensive tackle, a player whose job includes stopping the opposition’s running game and putting pressure on its quarterback. The San Francisco 49ers drafted him in 2016; he later spent six seasons with Indianapolis. Quenton Nelson is a veteran guard, who helps protect his team’s quarterback and open space for runners.
Draft picks can be valuable because they give teams a chance to add young players in future seasons. The Colts had already traded a 2027 first-round pick to the New York Jets for cornerback Sauce Gardner, so Indianapolis’s results may affect where that pick falls in the draft order.