49ers, Colts' Updated Salary Caps, NFL Draft Picks, Depth Charts After DeForest Buckner Trade

The Indianapolis Colts are clearing out salary and stocking up on draft picks after a 2-5 start to the 2026 season.

The Colts traded star defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for a 2027 fourth-round draft pick.

Indianapolis also acquired a 2027 third-rounder and 2028 fifth-rounder in exchange for guard Quenton Nelson.

The Colts are now projected to have 10 picks from the second round of the 2027 draft onward, per Spotrac.

The 49ers are projected to hold six 2027 picks, including their own first-rounder, per the AP's Josh Dubow.

The Colts cleared out $17.6 million in salary by trading Buckner and Nelson, according to Spotrac.

Indianapolis now has the most salary cap space in the NFL with $37 million remaining this season, and the fifth-most for 2027 with $97 million in space, according to Spotrac.

Buckner's contract carries a $7.9 million cap hit this season, per Spotrac. The 49ers are currently projected by Spotrac to rank 27th in the NFL with $1.1 million in top 51 cap space.

Buckner could now join a stacked Niners defensive line also featuring Nick bosa, Keion White and Osa Odighizuwa.

Projected 49ers DL

• LDE: Keion White, Mykel Williams

• LDT: Osa Odighizuwa, Sebastian Valdez

• RDT: DeForest Buckner, Gracen Halton

• RDE: Nick Bosa, Romello Height

• WLB: Dre Greenlaw, Jaden Dugger

• MLB: Fred Warner, Garret Wallow

The 49ers have been struggling with defensive line depth since losing defensive tackles C.J. West, Alfred Collins and James Thompson Jr. to injury. Defensive ends Nick Bosa and Sam Okuayinonu have also missed time due to injury.

The 49ers have ranked 19th and 20th in the NFL in pass rush win rate and run stop win rate, respectively, so far this season, per ESPN.

Buckner recorded 4.0 sacks in seven games with the Colts, more than any current member of the 49ers defense (White leads the group with 3.5 sacks).

The Niners will hope adding Buckner and bringing back Bosa from injury will help Raheem Morris' unit put together a stronger defensive performance down the stretch.

The Colts likely aren't done selling off players after remaining on for a sixth straight missed postseason.

All eyes will now be on running back Jonathan Taylor and wide receiver Josh Downs ahead of the Nov. 10 deadline.

ESPN's Jordan Raanan previously reported the Colts want at least a second-round pick for Taylor, who is signed through 2028. Downs is playing on an expiring contract but could still draw interest from wide-receiver needy teams looking to make the playoffs.

The Colts began their fire sale by dismissing former general manager Chris Ballard. Interim GM Ed Dodds and owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon could hope stocking up on draft picks will set up the franchise's next general manager for success this spring.

Ballard's successor might not be the only person who could benefit from the Colts selling at the deadline. The New York Jets, which hold the Colts' first-round pick as well as their own and the Dallas Cowboys', will be rooting for the Colts to keep losing down the stretch of the season.