The 49ers need defensive line help, and an easy solution would be to trade for this well-known Colts All-Pro.
The San Francisco 49ers' Week 9 bye comes at a perfect time. Not only is it squarely in the middle of the season, affording some much-needed rest and recovery, but it also takes place right before the 2024 NFL trade deadline.
That affords the Niners a chance to sit back, relax and see what happens across the league, specifically which teams will look to be buyers and which ones will "punt on the year" and turn into sellers.
General manager John Lynch said there aren't any trades currently on the table. But things can change in a hurry. Even he admitted that.
One of the teams Lynch might pay attention to during the bye is the Indianapolis Colts, who are stuck somewhere between trying to compete for a playoff berth but could quickly see their season fall apart.
At 4-4, and in the wake of head coach Shane Steichen announcing a change at quarterback from Anthony Richardson to the aging veteran, Joe Flacco, Indy is at a crossroads of trying to win now or looking to move tradable assets for what'd likely be a minor rebuild beginning in 2025.
If Indianapolis loses to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 9, the latter becomes a much bigger possibility.
Lynch and San Francisco can potentially take advantage, and there's one player the 49ers should be eyeing closely.
49ers must stage a reunion with Colts' DeForest Buckner by NFL trade deadline
The Niners can regret trading away one of their former Pro Bowl star players, defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, who was dealt early in 2020 to the Colts for a first-round NFL Draft pick, subsequently used on another defensive tackle, Javon Kinlaw, who never came close to replicating the former's on-field production.
If the Colts turn into sellers at the deadline, San Francisco can rectify that mistake.
Buckner, 30 years old, continued his Pro Bowl ways after that trade, securing a first-team All-Pro nod in 2020 but has spent a chunk of this season on injured reserve with an ankle injury.
The 49ers, meanwhile, have hurt for interior defensive line help, especially after losing Pro Bowl defensive tackle Javon Hargrave to a potential season-ending triceps injury.
Should Indy be interested in moving Buckner, the Niners must find their way to first in line.
From a contract perspective, Buckner is signed through 2026 and carries $26.6 million cap hits for the next two years. However, there's no guaranteed money on the final year of his deal, affording San Francisco a chance to get creative with either an extension or restructure to lessen a post-trade cap hit.
Buckner would no longer command a first- or even a second-round pick in return either, which means the 49ers could likely package a mid-round pick (or two) to send back in exchange.
Despite the recent injury, Buckner has shown no signs of slowing down despite being on the wrong side of 30 years old. He's coming off back-to-back eight-sack seasons and already recorded 2.5 this year over just three games played.
The 2024 NFL trade deadline is Nov. 5.
