A 32-year-old tackle for a future pick? The 49ers are betting on a playoff run.
Trading a productive player for a low-value draft pick is the new NFL strategy.
The story
The Colts traded DeForest Buckner and Quenton Nelson, receiving draft picks in return. Grades for the deals range from B+ to A, with the 49ers and Seahawks seen as winners.
Source: www.foxnews.com
Our reading
The Colts traded DeForest Buckner, a 32-year-old defensive tackle with 4 sacks and 8 quarterback hits, for a 2027 fourth-round pick. The 49ers, who had 15 sacks this season, are now counting on him to help them compete for a deep postseason run.
But the 49ers’ plan relies on Buckner and Nick Bosa, who’s coming off a calf injury. If Bosa doesn’t return in time, the pass rush might be more of a slow burn than a firestorm.
The Colts, meanwhile, get a pick that’s essentially a lottery ticket for a player they’ll never see. It’s like trading a working car for a coupon that might or might not get you a new one.
