If the Indianapolis Colts end up as sellers at the NFL trade deadline, one player to watch is defensive tackle DeForest Buckner.
The veteran defensive tackle is a prime trade candidate, given that he is set to be a free agent in the offseason and is still playing at a very high level, making him an appealing addition for playoff contenders.
Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport wrote that Buckner is "nearly guaranteed" to be traded if the Colts sell.
"Nearly guaranteed to leave Indianapolis after the season, a decision to sell would almost certainly include Buckner," Schefter wrote.
One team that could potentially show interest in Buckner, according to Schefter, is his former team, the San Francisco 49ers. Buckner was traded from San Francisco to Indianapolis after the 2019 season.
One team that could decide to make a run at Colts DT DeForest Buckner is the San Francisco 49ers, a team the star defensive tackle played for from 2016 through 2019, according to league sources. https://t.co/okLPlmo6zRpic.twitter.com/xMhSdbBGIS
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 25, 2026
All that said, it still remains to be seen what exactly the Colts' trade deadline approach will be. Although they sit at 2-4 this season, Indianapolis wants to attempt to turn things around. But if that fails in the coming weeks, players like Buckner could be traded.
This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: NFC team connected as potential trade candidate for Colts' DeForest Buckner