In a surprise move on the first day of free agency, the Indianapolis Colts traded the No. 13 overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft in exchange for San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle DeForest Buckner.
The Colts had a desperate need to fill at the interior defensive line, and this trade certainly has the makings of doing so. Buckner turns 26 years old on Tuesday and should bring life to an inconsistent pass rush.
Buckner as a player
This is a huge jump for the Colts. The biggest need on the defensive line was the interior and Buckner brings both upside and production to that area of the defense. At 6-foot-7 and 300 pounds, Buckner can play both the three-technique and the one-technique.
He has started 63 of a possible 64 games since entering the league. He was a Pro Bowler in 2018 and has 19.5 sacks and 34 quarterback hits over the last two seasons.
What this means for the defensive line
The Colts defensive tackles were responsible for just 6.5 of the team’s 41 sacks during the 2019 season. It was a major need to bring in a defensive tackle that knows how to generate consistent pressure on the opposing quarterback.
Buckner has been a stalwart in the middle of the 49ers defensive line throughout his career since being drafted as the No. 7 overall pick in the 2016 NFL draft. Buckner will be starting at the three-technique and the one-technique. The Colts are likely hoping that he can provide pressure from both, especially seeing that his size, length and power should give him the ability to collapse the pocket with consistency.
What this means for the salary cap
The Colts were among the teams with the most salary cap in the NFL and after they gave up the No. 13 overall pick, it was reported that Buckner already signed a five-year deal with $21 million per season. This obviously has a huge impact on the salary cap for the Colts, who had just under $70 million entering Monday’s legal tampering period.
Even so, the Colts should have plenty of money to spend on free agents if they feel the need to do so, but the acquisition of Buckner should be viewed as better than any free-agent option on the market.
What this means for the draft
The Colts were likely targeting a defensive tackle with the No. 13 pick in the draft and even though they still may do so later in the draft, the position becomes less of a priority.
There are still some options available on Days 2 and 3 of the draft, but Chris Ballard might feel more comfortable having a proven veteran who has a track record of success in the league.
This also means the Colts won’t be picking until the second round again—like 2019—unless Ballard wants to trade back up into the first round.