The 49ers are lining up for a major move before the NFL trade deadline, and the name at the center of the buzz is a very familiar one: DeForest Buckner.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, San Francisco could try to bring back the Pro Bowl defensive tackle it sent to Indianapolis in 2020. Buckner himself added fuel to the fire after the Colts’ latest loss, saying he’s tired of the "same old song and dance," and Indianapolis reportedly is open to moving some of its star players after firing general manager Chris Ballard a few days ago.
Buckner’s history with the 49ers runs straight through the heart of that old roster build. San Francisco drafted him seventh overall in 2016, kept him through the 2019 season, and then shipped him to the Colts after losing the Super Bowl to the Chiefs in February 2020.
The return was a first-round pick, which the 49ers used on Javon Kinlaw. They made that deal in part so they could extend Arik Armstead and Jimmie Ward, though neither player is still on the team.
Now the idea of a reunion makes plenty of sense. Buckner is still playing at a high level, and the 49ers need help at defensive tackle.
Yes, they need bodies in a lot of places because they remain one of the NFL’s most injury-hit teams, but several of those players are expected back soon. That’s part of why a wide receiver trade may not be the move.
Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, Demarcus Robinson and De'Zhaun Stribling are all supposed to return soon.
Defensive tackle, though, is a different problem. The 49ers lost Alfred Collins for the season, and he is not expected back until 2027.
There’s also concern about how fully he’ll recover after tearing his patellar tendon. Former 49ers draft pick Drake Jackson tore his patellar tendon in February of 2025 and has played only four games since then.
Buckner would address the biggest hole on the roster, and the price could be manageable - likely around a third-round pick. He’s still in his prime, too, with four sacks in six games this season.
He’d also give San Francisco a real finisher on the defensive line if Nick Bosa doesn’t make a full recovery this season. Then, with Buckner set to become a free agent, the 49ers could work out an extension in the offseason.
At this point, a trade feels like the move. The 49ers know they’re legitimate Super Bowl contenders, and one right addition could change the ceiling of the roster. With the Seattle Seahawks possibly eyeing Colts running back Jonathan Taylor, San Francisco may feel pressure to make a splash of its own.
In Other News...
49ers May Have Found A Possible McCaffrey Successor To Watch
Makhi Hughes is the kind of running back the 49ers have to keep on the radar as they think beyond Christian McCaffrey. Now at Houston after stops at Oregon and Tulane, Hughes has the build and style that tend to fit San Franciscos offense, with a strong frame, good contact balance and the kind of one-cut burst that can translate well in Kyle Shanahans system.
The 2026 season has only sharpened the case for him as a future draft name worth tracking, especially if the 49ers are looking for a possible late-round answer at the position in 2027. Hughes path has already included a move away from Oregon, and his current production has put him back into the kind of conversation that keeps scouts watching closely as the next class starts to take shape. [Read more 🡒]
Shanahans Patience With Two Shaky 49ers Is Getting Tested
The 49ers have spent the first six games leaning on depth, and for the most part it has paid off in a 6-0 start. But not every spot has been as steady as the record suggests. Wide receiver Jacob Cowings punt return work has become a concern over the past two games, and kicker Eddy Pineiro has also had some uneven moments, turning what should be routine special-teams plays into a little more stress than San Francisco would like.
Kyle Shanahan did not dismiss either issue, but he also did not sound like a coach ready to make a panic move. He said both players can improve, which leaves the 49ers in a familiar spot for a team that has high standards across the roster: good enough to keep winning, but still watching a couple of shaky edges that could matter if they dont tighten up soon. [Read more 🡒]
Raheem Morris Gives 49ers Falcons Matchup Extra Intrigue
Raheem Morriss trip back to Mercedes-Benz Stadium adds a little extra texture to a 49ers-Falcons matchup that already carries some familiar NFL weight. Now San Franciscos defensive coordinator, Morris spent time as Atlantas head coach and is back in the building for the first time since the Falcons moved on from him in January, giving this game a personal layer even before the opening kickoff.
Morris had praise for Michael Penix Jr. and Bijan Robinson, a nod to the kind of talent the Falcons can put on the field and the challenge that comes with facing them. Still, Kyle Shanahan and Fred Warner have made clear the 49ers do not lean on emotional hooks to get themselves ready, treating this one like any other week even if Morriss return gives the matchup a little more to discuss. [Read more 🡒]