The first move the Indianapolis Colts made when the legal tampering period opened in March was a big one. Trading the No. 13 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft for defensive tackle DeForest Buckner wasn’t a deal anyone truly saw coming.
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Giving up mid-first round draft capital probably wasn’t all that easy for general manager Chris Ballard—despite saying it was a no-brainer—but there is little doubt the move won’t immediately result in upgraded production from a premium position on the defensive line.
ESPN went as far as to say the move was the biggest positional upgrade of the offseason.
1. Indianapolis Colts, DT
DeForest Buckner replaces Margus HuntHunt’s 2019 stat line: 17 tackles, 0 sacks
Buckner’s 2020 projection: 62 tackles, 7 sacksColts general manager Chris Ballard said early in the offseason that the Colts’ defensive scheme runs through the 3-technique tackle. He put his money where his mouth is not long after, trading for Buckner. The 26-year-old was arguably the 49ers’ best player during a 2019 season that saw the team advance to the Super Bowl. Buckner’s 7.5 sacks tied for sixth, his 12 tackles for loss fifth and his 61 total tackles ninth among interior defensive linemen. Buckner was a key acquisition for an ascending defense that includes the likes of Justin Houston, Darius Leonard, Kenny Moore and Malik Hooker. This unit is now good enough to help get the Colts back into the playoffs.
Buckner’s mere presence on the interior will help the entire defense, especially the front seven. Per ESPN, Buckner has been double-teamed the fourth-most since 2016 when he entered the league. His presence alone will open up the gaps for the edge rushers and linebackers who are either filling in against the run or blitzing through the interior.
The Buckner move wasn’t the only one praised by ESPN. The upgrade at quarterback from Jacoby Brissett to Philip Rivers was ranked seventh according to the list.
7. Indianapolis Colts, QB
Philip Rivers replaces Jacoby BrissettBrissett’s 2019 stat line: 272-of-447, 2,942 yards, 18 TDs, 6 INTs
Rivers’ 2020 projection: 334-of-516, 3,807 yards, 26 TDs, 15 INTsOne year after being forced to roll with Brissett at quarterback following Andrew Luck’s shocking August retirement, the Colts signed Rivers to a one-year deal. The former longtime Chargers quarterback is coming off an underwhelming campaign in which he completed 66% of his passes (10th in the NFL) and averaged 7.81 YPA (11th) but also tossed 20 interceptions (third most) and posted a 48.6 QBR (22nd). Rivers’ age (38) and turnovers are a concern, but he’s a clear upgrade over Brissett, who protects the ball well but struggles with accuracy (61% completion rate, 18% off-target rate last season) and impact plays (6.6 YPA). Rivers, who will benefit from one of the league’s best offensive lines, joins the aforementioned Buckner in positioning the Colts as the favorites in the AFC South.
The Colts upgraded at two of their most important positions. Buckner’s addition should bring the defense to another level while Rivers running the offense should result in the passing game taking a big step forward.
Regardless, the Colts can hang their hat on a solid offseason with these two moves alone.
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