The Colts and star defensive tackle DeForest Buckner agreed Monday on a two-year, $46 million contract extension that ties him to Indianapolis through the 2026 season, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The extension is the fifth-richest in the NFL for a defensive tackle in terms of average annual value, after Kansas City’s Chris Jones ($31.75 million), Las Vegas’ Christian Wilkins ($27.5 million), Baltimore’s Justin Madubuike ($24.5 million) and Carolina’s Derrick Brown ($24 million).
Buckner had one year remaining on the four-year, $84 million deal he signed in 2020 with the Colts, who acquired the three-time Pro Bowler in a trade with the San Francisco 49ers. The 6-foot-7, 295-pound Buckner has been one of the NFL’s most consistent interior linemen throughout his career and has 32.5 sacks in four seasons with the Colts.
Buckner, 30, becomes the latest player to re-sign this offseason with the Colts, who have brought back nine other players from last year’s squad, including receiver Michael Pittman Jr, cornerback Kenny Moore II, defensive lineman Grover Stewart and linebacker Zaire Franklin.