INDIANAPOLIS – On the field, DeForest Buckner is hard to move.
And he won’t be going anywhere for the Indianapolis Colts.
The team awarded their defensive stalwart with a contract extension.
The 2-year, $46 million extension will make him one of the highest-paid defensive linemen in the league, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. It runs through the 2026 season, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The Colts confirmed the re-signing with a social media post that said, “Extend Buck” followed by a checkmark. General manager Chris Ballard issued a statement emphasizing Buckner’s importance to the franchise.
“DeForest has been the epitome of what it means to be a Colt the last four years. As one of the premier defensive tackles in the league, he is a destructive force on our defensive line. DeForest is one of the pillars of our locker room. His hard work, consistency and approach to the game are vital to the success of our team. We are fortunate to have DeForest and the caliber of man he is representing our organization. I’m excited for him and his family on this much deserved contract extension.”
Colts GM Chris Ballard
Buckner was in the final year of the four-year contract he signed with the Colts after being acquired via trade from the San Francisco 49ers in 2020. Indy gave up the No. 13 overall pick to get him.
A durable, disruptive defensive tackle, Buckner played in 17 games this past season, setting a career high in tackles with 81. He finished with 8 sacks, tying him with Dayo Odeyingbo for third-most on the team.
Buckner, 30, consistently draws double teams, freeing up other defenders to make plays. Even then, he remains a force in the middle, consistently clogging running lanes and providing interior pressure. In four seasons with the Colts, he’s averaged more than 8 sacks per year.
A three-time Pro Bowl selection (2018, 2021, 2023) who has earned AP First Team All-Pro (2020) and Second Team All-Pro (2019) honors, he is again expected to play a key role for the Colts’ defense, providing experience, leadership and accountability as a team captain.
For the Colts, the extension follows the team’s current strategy of retaining key players. Grover Stewart, Kenny Moore II, Michael Pittman Jr. and Zaire Franklin were among the players who re-signed in free agency or were given extensions this offseason.
