49ers Reacquire Buckner for 2027 Fourth-Round Pick — SkimNews

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- Indianapolis Colts traded DeForest Buckner to the 49ers for a 2027 fourth-round pick, reuniting the 2016 No. 7 overall pick with the team that drafted him.
- DeForest Buckner started all seven games for Indianapolis this season, totaling 31 combined tackles, four sacks and three pass breakups before the move.
- DeForest Buckner has 683 combined tackles, 101 tackles for a loss, 75.5 sacks, 31 pass deflections, nine forced fumbles, 11 fumble recoveries and two touchdowns across 11 seasons, with 153 starts in 158 games.
- 49ers rank fourth in total defense at 299.3 yards allowed per game and fifth in run defense at 89.0 yards per game, while their three rushing touchdowns allowed are tied for the league best.
- Nick Bosa has missed multiple games with a calf injury, and Buckner will join a defensive line that also includes Osa Odighizuwa, Mykel Williams and Fred Warner.
- Indianapolis Colts sit at 2-5 after GM Chris Ballard was fired; Tuesday’s trades sending Buckner to the 49ers and Quenton Nelson to the Seahawks added two 2027 picks and one 2028 pick while clearing more than $17.7 million in cap space.
- George Kittle celebrated the move on social media: “DEFOOOOO THE BOYS ARE BACK.”
Why it matters: The 49ers acquire a starter with 31 tackles and four sacks this season for a 2027 fourth-round pick, adding depth on a defensive line where Nick Bosa has missed multiple games with a calf injury. Indianapolis receives a future selection in a broader reset that also cleared more than $17.7 million in cap space.
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