It was a shocking move to see the Indianapolis Colts trade away the No. 13 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft in exchange for defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, but it’s a move that immediately addressed one of their biggest needs.
Players like Buckner don’t hit the market often and when they do, they get paid handsomely. Much of this is because of what Buckner brings to the table year in and year out.
In ESPN’s “training camp nuggets” piece, they showed just how reliable and productive Buckner has been since entering the league in 2016.
3. On the defensive side of the ball, the Colts traded their 2020 first-round draft pick to the 49ers for DeForest Buckner, then signed him to a four-year, $84 million contract extension. Buckner gives Indianapolis a durable defensive lineman who can make an impact against both the pass and run. Since entering the league in 2016, Buckner ranks third among all defensive linemen in snaps (3,347), second in tackles (262), and 21st in sacks (28.5). His 209 tackles against the run is also the third most of any defensive linemen over that span.
Adding Buckner to the defensive line should do wonders for the entire unit. All three levels of the defense will improve because of his presence. Whether directly or indirectly, Buckner’s addition will pay immediate dividends.
Giving up the No. 13 pick is a lot but what the Colts got in return will have both an immediate and long-term impact for Indy’s defense.