ESPN Tabs Colts Star 'Surprise-Trade Candidate'

The NFL Trade Deadline passed on Tuesday afternoon with the Indianapolis Colts remaining quiet. 

We're halfway through the 2023 season, and there are some in the media already looking at the offseason and potential-trade candidates. Dan Graziano of ESPN is one of those some, and he tabbed Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner as a surprise-trade candidate this offseason on ESPN+.

"Still one of the top game-wrecking interior defensive linemen, Buckner is certainly a candidate for an extension," wrote Graziano on ESPN+. "He has four sacks and two forced fumbles in 2023. But the Colts are running a different defense than they were when the team acquired him from the 49ers, and he does turn 30 in March." 

"Plus, Buckner is scheduled to earn a non-guaranteed $20.25 million in 2024, which is the final year of his contract. The dead-money hit for moving on would be just $2.5 million.

"The Colts are fine on 2024 cap space and have a quarterback on a rookie contract in Anthony Richardson, so there isn't a screaming financial reason to move on from Buckner for cap relief. But such a move is there for them if they decide to do so for scheme or other reasons."

The Colts may decide they would be better off with draft picks and $18-million in available-cap space next season. However Buckner is still playing at a high level, and impact defensive tackles is one of the hardest positions to find in the NFL.

Pro Football Focus (PFF) grades Buckner as the No. 21 defensive tackle out of 125 eligible despite the Colts' defensive struggles.

Buckner theoretically has four or five good years in him, and that should put the Colts firmly in the window of playoff, Super Bowl contention if their rebuild under Shane Steichen goes according to plan.

The Colts are roughly $63 million under the cap in 2024 including Buckner's $20-million hit and before any increase in the cap is factored in.

Fellow defenders Grover Stewart and Kenny Moore are scheduled to be free agents in 2024, but they won't be due large pay increases from the $10.2 and $8.3 million they are making respectively in 2023.

Michael Pittman is coming off his rookie contract and will get a substantial bump from the $2.2-million cap charge he had this season.

The Indianapolis Colts have shown the ability to put points on the board under head coach Shane Steichen with either Anthony Richardson and Gardner Minshew under center. 

They've had trouble stopping teams lately. They've given up 35+ in each of the last three games... all losses. They have the worst scoring defense in the NFL.

Graziano did title his column as surprise candidates to be traded. The financial flexibility on Buckner's contract makes him moveable. His necessity to a defensive struggling for premier players does not. 

The Colts trading Buckner would qualify as a big, big surprise.