The Indianapolis Colts have a good reason to believe their $46 million investment can still pay off despite recent turmoil
It’s way too early to sell stock on three-time Pro Bowler defensive tackle DeForest Buckner.
The Indianapolis Colts may have many questions going into the 2026 NFL season, but defensive tackle isn’t one of them. At least, not if a key starter can remain healthy.
Three-time Pro Bowler defensive tackle DeForest Buckner remains one of the best players on the Colts. And while the former All-Pro defensive tackle’s career has taken a hit because of multiple injuries since the 2024 season, there is a good and simple reason to believe they’re $46 million investment in him can pay off.
Buckner is ‘still elite’
Since the Colts signed Buckner to a two-year, $46 million extension in 2024, injuries have hit his career. Over the last couple of seasons, he has missed 12 games. Earlier this offseason, Buckner even considered retirement before deciding to return for his eleventh season in the NFL. His 2025 season ended with a season-ending neck surgery.
Now that he’s set to return, however, the question becomes how good will he be? Buckner wasn’t in the Top 10 of the recent ESPN’s position rankings, which are put together by polling anonymous NFL scouts, coaches, and execs.
But he did get an honorable mention (meaning he got at least some Top 10 votes), and it was a telling one.
“No real drop-off in his play,” said an anonymous NFL defensive line coach via insider Jeremy Fowler. “He’s still elite — just older and injured.”
That is no small statement, and one the Colts need to be true. At least, the numbers back it up. Buckner averaged 3.6 pressures per game in 2025, very close to the 3.8 he averaged when he was named All-Pro in 2020.
He also finished the season with four sacks, which put him on pace for almost seven sacks in a full season.
Though Buckner’s injuries have been very unfortunate over the last couple of seasons, if he’s healthy, he should be his old self. That is easy said than done.
Next step: Being ready for Colts training camp
Buckner established early in the offseason his goal was to be ready to go for training camp. But the road there hasn’t been an easy one. He revealed the first couple of weeks after his neck surgery, he couldn’t even lift his kids up.
Buckner acknowledged he’ll have to have a different approach, too.
“The way things are going,’’ Buckner said in May, “Technique-wise I’m going to have to change things here and there. But I think I’ll be good.’’