The San Francisco 49ers converted $6.5 million of defensive tackle DeForest Buckner’s traded salary into a signing bonus, per Spotrac. The move adds two void years, creating $5.2 million in cap space this season.
Buckner is set to become a free agent after this season, so the void years are for salary cap purposes. Here’s a look at the dead cap hit numbers for Buckner through the next few seasons, per Spotrac:
2027 – $5.2m
2028: $3.9m
2029: $2.6m
2030: $1.3m
It’ll be interesting to see what kind of
extension, if any, both sides work out after this season. That could all depend on how the season goes. Buckner has $161.3 million in career earnings, which is the fourth-highest among all defensive linemen currently in the NFL. It’d be a storybook ending if Buckner finishes his career where he started.
The 49ers are currently $4.9 million in the hole in 2027, but that also includes a $40.4 million cap hit from Brandon Aiyuk. There will be enough cap space to bring back Buckner.
