The 49ers may be staring at a familiar answer to a very specific problem: DeForest Buckner.
San Francisco’s defensive line has plenty of moments where it flashes, including the five sacks on Sam Darnold last week. But the unit still lacks the kind of dependable finisher who can slam the door late when an opponent has to throw its way back into a game.
That role was supposed to belong to Nick Bosa, yet he still hasn’t fully recovered from his third ACL tear. Right now, he’s out with a calf strain that could be tied to the knee issue, and he still hasn’t participated fully in practice this year.
It’s unclear how he plans to manage his body.
That leaves the 49ers with a decision: sit tight and hope Bosa gets back to full strength after the bye week and stays healthy the rest of the way, or get aggressive and add a proven closer on the defensive front. Buckner fits that description as well as anybody.
The irony is hard to miss. The 49ers drafted Buckner in 2016, rode with him to the Super Bowl in 2019 and then dealt him to the Colts after that loss to the Chiefs so they could keep Arik Armstead and Jimmie Ward.
Neither player is on the roster anymore. Buckner, meanwhile, remains one of the league’s best defensive tackles.
He reminded everyone of his frustration after the Colts dropped to 2-4 with a loss to the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. At his locker, Buckner was visibly angry and let his feelings show.
"I'm pissed off, "Buckner said, "I'm sick and tired of the same song and dance every..." He paused for a second, choosing his next word carefully.
Every day? Every week?
Every month?
"Every year," Buckner said in a tone of cold condemnation. This comment made a Colts P.R. person uncomfortable, so he said, "a few more," trying to end the interview before Buckner said anything else that might go viral.
That kind of moment only fuels the sense that Indianapolis could actually move him. Buckner is 32, he’s set to become a free agent after the season and the Colts could save millions by dealing him before the deadline. If they don’t, they risk losing him for nothing.
For San Francisco, the price may not be outrageous. A fourth-round pick is the likeliest cost, and that’s within reason for a team that views itself as a Super Bowl favorite with a shrinking window. The 49ers know they need to win now.
Of course, they may choose to use that pick elsewhere. If they decide defensive tackle isn’t the biggest issue, they could target an edge rusher instead, with Khalil Mack mentioned as another possibility.
Either way, San Francisco looks primed to make a move. It just may come down to whether the 49ers decide Buckner is the piece they need most.
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