The San Francisco 49ers are trading a 2027 fourth-round pick to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for defensive tackle DeForest Buckner according to the Ringer's Tom Pelissero.
Buckner, a 2016 first-round pick of the 49ers, spent his first four seasons in San Francisco before being dealt to the Colts for a 2020 first-round pick.
In his 11 NFL seasons he has 75.5 sacks, 101 tackles for loss and 196 quarterback hits. This year he's playing well with 20 pressures and six sacks according to Pro Football Focus.
This is a massive lift for a 49ers defensive line that has never quite been the same since the initial Buckner trade. Now with injuries up front to DTs CJ West and Alfred Collins, San Francisco is adding a big-time reinforcement that bolsters
both their pass rush and run defense. Buckner figures to line up alongside Osa Odighizuwa in the starting lineup. With Nick Bosa due to return from a calf strain shortly after the Bye week the 49ers' defensive line suddenly looks like a Super Bowl quality unit with good depth pieces on the interior like rookies James Thompson Jr. and Gracen Halton.
San Francisco took advantage of a Colts fire sale that began when Indianapolis sent All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson to the Seattle Seahawks. Now the 49ers have answered with a trade of their own as the arms race in the NFC West heats up.
It'll take a couple of weeks for Buckner to debut since the 49ers are off for Week 8. He should be in uniform and ready to go in Week 9 when San Francisco returns to the field against the Las Vegas Raiders at Levi's Stadium.
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This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 49ers trade 2027 4th-round pick to Colts for All-Pro DT
