It almost happened, folks, it *almost* happened! The chatter around our Seattle Seahawks making a move for DeForest Buckner was real, and you know what? It felt like that very talk lit a fire under the San Francisco 49ers’ rear ends, because multiple reports just confirmed it: the Niners are trading for Buckner. You can bet George Kittle’s celebratory tweet, “DEFOOOOO THE BOYS ARE BACK,” felt a little extra urgent, didn’t it?
DeFO’s Back in the Bay, What it Means for Them
So, here’s the deal, confirmed by The Ringer’s Tom Pelissero: the 49ers get DeForest Buckner, and the Colts get a 2027 fourth-round pick. A fourth-rounder for Buckner? That feels like a steal for San Francisco, honestly. This isn’t just an upgrade; it’s an *unspeakable* one for Raheem Morris’s scheme. Remember watching Sebastian Valdez and Osa Odighizuwa getting pushed around out there in their last game? Yeah, that won’t be happening as much now. This move immediately allows guys like Valdez and Odighizuwa to slide into proper role-player spots, taking a ton of pressure off Gracen Halton too. The pecking order should make everyone on that defensive front better.
Buckner’s used to the dirty work, too. He’s a beast at drawing double teams, something that eases the pressure on everyone else. Through the first month of the season, Buckner was double-teamed on 36.4% of his pass rushes. That’s actually *down* from 49.5%, which is kinda wild, but it’s because he’s been aligning at 5-technique or wider on 13.3% of his snaps, his highest rate since he entered the league. That versatility is huge.
The Sack Master’s Stats Don’t Lie
This guy is a straight-up sack artist, no two ways about it. Through the first four weeks of the season, Buckner already recorded three sacks. That was tied for the second-most among interior defensive linemen across the league. But what truly sets Buckner apart, what makes him such a game-wrecker, is his uncanny ability to turn those pressures into actual sacks. Per Next Gen Stats, Buckner was converting 30% of his pressures into sacks. Think about that for a second. That’s the highest rate of any season for a defensive lineman since 2018. He doesn’t just get close, he finishes the play.
Beyond the Buckner trade, the 49ers also announced they signed Kevin Givens to their practice squad and released wide receiver Malik Turner. But let’s be real, the big news is Buckner. Meanwhile, speaking of big wins, our Hawks just shut down the Kansas City Chiefs, 20-3! That’s what we love to see, the Emerald City showing out! This team just keeps proving itself. Let’s keep that momentum rolling!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Niners Nation.
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