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Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner. Jenna Watson-USA TODAY Sports

Colts Pro Bowl DT hinted at contract extension Sunday night

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 4/15/24

It's an exciting time of the year for sports fans in Indiana.

The NBA's Indiana Pacers clinched the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs and will face the third-seeded Milwaukee Bucks in the first round.

The Indiana Fever are widely expected to select superstar guard Caitlin Clark with the first overall pick on Monday during the WNBA Draft.

The Indianapolis Colts made a big move on Monday morning, signing defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to a two-year, $46M contract extension. The three-time Pro Bowler hinted on Sunday night that a deal was in the works.

It was a beautiful day in Indy, the sun was shining and the Pacers got the W. Who knows what tomorrow will bring!
— DeForest Buckner (@DeForestBuckner) April 14, 2024

Colts report today for their offseason program and Buckner was heading into the final year of his contract. He was never, ever going to be allowed to hit the open market.
— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) April 15, 2024

To be clear, they technically have the freedom to backload the deal and push more of it to 2025, but that’s not the Colts’ style. They practically never do that.
— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) April 15, 2024

While Indianapolis hasn't added much new talent yet this offseason, the team's Buckner deal continues a trend of bringing back in-house players on new contracts.

Indianapolis continues re-signing and keeping its talent this off/season. The Colts now have signed ten of their own players to new deals this offseason:

DeForest Buckner, 2 years, $46M
Michael Pittman: 3 years, $70M
Kenny Moore: 3 years, $30M
Grover Stewart: 3 years,… https://t.co/7s7aKYxnzQ
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 15, 2024

Buckner was selected by the San Francisco 49ers with the seventh overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft and spent the first four seasons of his career in the Bay Area. Buckner made his first Pro Bowl following the 2018 campaign, setting career highs in tackles for loss (17) and sacks (12.0)

He helped lead the Niners to an appearance in Super Bowl LIV the following year, posting a career-best four fumble recoveries and earning second-team All-Pro honors.

The 30-year-old Buckner was then traded to the Colts in March 2020 and had arguably the best season of his career.

The Oregon product had a career-high 26 quarterback hits during his first season in Indianapolis, 9.5 sacks and was a first-team All-Pro. Buckner was also named the AFC Defensive Player of the Month for December.

He made his second Pro Bowl in the 2021 season, was productive again in 2022 and earned his third Pro Bowl honor in 2023.

Buckner finished the 2023 campaign with a team-high 21 quarterback hits, 11 tackles for loss (second), 8.0 sacks (tied for third) and a career-best seven passes defensed (tied for second).

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