Trade AND deal: Colts trade first-round pick (13th overall) to 49ers for All-Pro DT DeForest Buckner, who already has agreed to a massive contract that pays him $21 million a year and makes him the second-highest paid DT in NFL history behind only Aaron Donald, sources tell ESPN.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 16, 2020
The Indianapolis Colts have traded the No. 13 overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for defensive lineman DeForest Buckner, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.
The Colts also already have a deal done for Buckner, which is five years at $21 million per season, reported Joel A. Erickson of the Indianapolis Star.
Can confirm the Colts traded a first-round pick for DeForest Buckner, per source. 5-year deal at $21 million per year.
— Joel A. Erickson (@JoelAErickson) March 16, 2020
The Colts have a massive need on the interior defensive line and while most believed they would enter the free agency market to quell those needs, general manager Chris Ballard had a different path in mind.
Buckner, 25, was the No. 7 overall pick in the 2016 NFL draft with the 49ers. He’s been a stalwart for San Francisco since that time, starting 63 of a possible 64 games since entering the league.
In those 63 games, Buckner has recorded 28.5 sacks, 38 tackles for loss and 74 quarterback hits. The Oregon product was a Pro Bowler in 2018 when he recorded 12.5 sacks and 17 tackles for loss.
Buckner will lead an interior defensive line group that recorded just 6.5 sacks during the 2019 season.