The Indianapolis Colts signed stud defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to a two-year, $46 million extension, the team announced Monday morning.
Buckner, 30, now gets to come back to Indy and continue terrorizing NFC South’s offensive linemen.
And now the reason: DeForest Buckner gets a 2-year, $46M extension to keep him in Indy and pay him as one of the highest-paid DLs. https://t.co/wamM5A0ryl
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 15, 2024
The crown for best interior lineman in the NFL is now fully up for grabs in the wake of future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald’s retirement.
Buckner, whose extension makes him the seventh-highest-paid interior defensive lineman in the league, is squarely in contention for that title after a stellar eight-year career. (RELATED: NFL Team Breaks Off A Chunk Of Cash For Ferocious Edge-Rusher)
He spent the first half of his career in San Francisco, earning Pro Bowl honors in 2018 and a second-team All-Pro selection in 2019. But the 49ers, who were loaded with defensive line talent at the time, traded him in 2020. The Colts sent the 13th overall pick to San Fran for Buckner’s services and I doubt they regret it.
Since joining the Colts he’s made two Pro Bowls and earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2020. He’s racked up 32-and-a-half sacks since joining Indy, trailing only the Kansas City Chiefs’ Chris Jones in sacks for an interior lineman since that time.
Maybe it’s because he plays in Indy and doesn’t get the national media spotlight as much, but Buckner’s accolades have been somewhat understated in recent years. But ask any scout worth his salt and he’d tell you Buckner is one of the best players in the league. His new deal still puts him below recent massive deals signed by the Raiders’ Christian Wilkins and Panthers’ Derrick Brown. Each of those guys are studs, to be sure, but Buckner outclasses them both. Indy got a steal here.