Sports Media

49ers Trade DeForest Buckner To Colts For First Round Pick

Trey Daubert / NFL / March 16, 2020

Guys… we have a trade. The San Francisco 49ers have traded All-Pro defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to the Indianapolis Colts. In exchange, San Fran will receive the 13th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. It’s a fascinating trade to dive into.

Adam Schefter of ESPN was the first to report the news:

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

After today’s trade for the No. 13 overall pick, the 49ers now have two first-round picks.

Without second-, third-, and fourth-round picks, the 49ers are likely to shop one of their first-round picks to pick up more draft compensation.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 16, 2020

This trade can be summarized quickly. The 49ers decided to re-sign Arik Armstead at $17 million per year while shipping out Buckner and collecting the 13th pick in the draft. Buckner was set to play on a 5th year option who was in need of a new contract extension. Buckner lands a deal worth $21 million with Indianapolis. It would have been impossible for San Francisco to sign both of them while worrying about a future Nick Bosa extension.

San Fran also needed draft capital. They traded their 2nd round pick for Dee Ford. The 3rd and 4th round picks got shipped in the Emmanuel Sanders trade. It was important to get more draft capital for a young team that is gearing up to make another run. It’s a big loss for the 49ers but a very smart business decision at the end of the day.

Frank Reich: Colts In ‘Good Hands’ With Jacoby Brissett

For the Colts, it’s simple. They grab a great player. Maybe overpaid a bit to land him but there’s no denying Buckner is awesome. Buckner was selected as an All-Pro this past year with 7.5 sacks on the interior. It also takes them out of the first round quarterback conversation. Philip Rivers seems to be coming to town instead in a battle with Jacoby Brissett.

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