DeForest Buckner Returns to 49ers, Bolstering Defensive Line Depth

The San Francisco 49ers reacquired defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, 32, from the Colts for a 2027 fourth-round pick. This move reunites Buckner with the 49ers, where he'll provide crucial depth and pass-rush assistance, joining Osa Odighizuwa. Buckner, in the final year of his $46 million extension, has 31 tackles, 20 pressures, and four sacks this season. The trade allows the 49ers to rotate their interior linemen more, keeping Buckner and Odighizuwa fresh for a playoff push.