Indianapolis Colts to sign DeForest Buckner to new two-year extension

The Indianapolis Colts are locking up one of the league’s most ferocious defensive tackles for another two seasons on Monday, according to multiple reports. Former first-rounder DeForest Buckner is signing a new two-year extension for $46 million, which will keep him with the team through 2026.

The new deal, which averages $23 million a season, makes Buckner among the top 10 highest-paid defensive tackles in the league. It’s the second mega-deal he’s signed with Indianapolis since the team traded for him in 2020. He left the 49ers in 2020 when the Colts traded the No. 13 overall pick to San Francisco. They initially gave him a 4-year, $84 million extension, and now he gets another huge payday.

In 2023 for the Colts, Buckner posted 81 tackles with eight sacks and 14 tackles for loss. He also had two forced fumbles and a recovery. It was his sixth season with at least seven or more sacks.

Through his first eight seasons in the league, Buckner has tallied 61 sacks with 57 tackles for loss. He’s also added 2.5 sacks in post-season appearances. As for forced fumbles, he has nine with seven recoveries.

The San Francisco 49ers drafted Buckner with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft out of Oregon. He quickly moved into the lineup, tallying 73 tackles with six sacks as a rookie. The team held on to him through his rookie deal, but opted to trade him instead of paying over $14 million for his fifth-year option.

At Oregon, Buckner played all 13 games as a freshman before going on to become the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year in 2015. Since entering the league, he’s earned three Pro Bowl nominations as well as one first-team All-Pro honor and one second-team All-Pro honor.

More on the 2024 NFL offseason, free agency

The NFL 2024 calendar year began at 4 p.m. ET on March 13. At that time, contracts running through 2023 officially ran out, making those players free agents.

In addition to NFL free agency, the new year also marks the beginning of all trades being made official by the league office. April 19 marks the deadline to sign restricted free agents to offer sheets. On April 24, the deadline for teams to match restricted free agent offers sheets hits. Following the restricted free agent deadline follows the 2024 NFL Draft, which runs from April 25-27.