Colts extend star DT DeForest Buckner

Why the Colts chose to extend Buckner

Buckner has been one of the best players on the Colts roster since they acquired him via trade from the San Francisco 49ers in 2020. During his four-year stint with the team, he has recorded 281 total tackles, 42 tackles for loss, 87 QB hits, and 32.5 sacks, each surpassing what he recorded during his first four seasons in the NFL with the 49ers. 

Buckner was set to become a free agent after the upcoming season but is now locked in through the 2026 season. A trend the Colts have been using quite a bit this offseason, locking the majority of their core to Anthony Richardson's rookie contract. This is a solid deal for the Colts, with Buckner set to make 23 million a year, only the 7th highest among DTs across the NFL, for a player who just turned 30 in March.

The 30-year-old is just the latest defensive tackle to benefit from a surging market. 

What's next for the Colts?

It will be interesting to see how this contract impacts the Colts' current cap space. If they chose to, they could adjust his cap hit for the upcoming season (even though the extension doesn't begin till 2025), which could increase the Colts' cap space dramatically. He currently has the second-highest cap hit on the Colts roster at 22.75 million. Spreading any of that money over the next two seasons or converting any of it into a potential signing bonus could help the Colts have more flexibility after the draft to attack the remaining free agency class. With this extension done, the Colts' notable players entering the final year of their contracts include: 

• Ryan Kelly
• Kwity Paye
• Dayo Odeyingbo
• Julian Blackmon
• Will Fries
• E.J. Speed
• Kylen Granson