5 DeForest Buckner trade spots after his comments about the Colts’ irrelevance

DeForest Buckner is fed up with the way the Indianapolis Colts tread water. After a dispiriting loss to the previously winless Tennessee Titans on Sunday, the veteran All-Pro defensive tackle let everyone know about his boiled-over displeasure, saying he was “sick and tired” of the Colts‘ inability to contend in any meaningful fashion over the years.

That raises an important question for the middling 2-4 Colts. The 32-year-old Buckner is on an expiring deal but still presents a lot of value as a star-caliber, pass-rushing defensive tackle. Could Indianapolis cut its losses and try to salvage assets for a frustrated Buckner ahead of the NFL’s November 10th trade deadline? Because right now it seems pretty clear Buckner will leave in the offseason anyway. All of a sudden, a trade doesn’t seem so outlandish to suggest, and it would be the smart thing to do given how uninspiring the Colts already look in late October.

Who might trade for Buckner, should he become available? Let’s unpack a few sensible options that would give Buckner a chance to shine for a team with something to play for while also bringing the Colts back a high-value draft pick or two.

If there’s one thing the Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson Chicago Bears lack, it’s a field-tilting pass rush, especially on the interior. Guys like veteran Grady Jarrett are solid, but they’re not necessarily going to move the needle as genuine impact players. The Bears’ offense is clearly good enough to compete for a championship this season. Their defense, until it might make a notable addition over the next few weeks, probably isn’t. Enter Buckner, who could amplify Garrett and Chicago’s somewhat underrated defensive end trio of Montez Sweat, Dayo Odeyingbo, and Austin Booker.

This might be a surprising addition to this list for some, considering the Texans are known as a defensive team. But while they have a constellation of stars on defense, they don’t have anyone on the interior defensive line like Buckner who can collapse the pocket for DeMeco Ryans’ unit. I find it hard to believe that the Colts would actually trade Buckner to an AFC South division rival, but what if the Texans were willing to pay a premium price that was impossible to say no? It could happen!

The Raiders feel a little less likely to make a splash trade, considering they’re only in their first year under head coach Klint Kubiak. Taking a big trade swing doesn’t exactly match the Raiders’ rebuilding timeline. However, at 3-3, the Raiders are surprisingly competitive and are more than holding their own in a stacked AFC conference. Imagine slotting Buckner next to Maxx Crosby for a Raiders team making a playoff push during the stretch run. That’s a scary thought.

Never underestimate the audacity of Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. In a year where the NFC East seems ripe for the taking by a flawed team, I don’t think it would be shocking to see Jones and Co. try to add a player like Buckner who can help their miserable defense. I don’t know how a player like Buckner fixes a broken secondary, but maybe he gives the Cowboys’ defensive backs more time to cover pass-catchers at the very least.

The Packers aren’t exactly rife with draft capital after the Micah Parsons trade, but that’s the issue. Who are they going to line up next to Parsons when he makes his long-awaited return later this season? Their defense, particularly their defensive line, lacks real game-changing talent. Another trade to acquire Buckner would make a lot of sense for a Packers team holding its own in both the NFC North and NFC race.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: 5 DeForest Buckner trade spots after his comments about the Colts’ irrelevance