The Indianapolis Colts spent their first-round pick and a boatload of money to get defensive tackle DeForest Buckner in the building this offseason, and that return on investment happened almost immediately.
The 26-year-old interior pass rusher has been everything the Colts could have wanted and more from the engine of their defense. He even made a bit of history during the 2020 season that hadn’t been done before in the Colts franchise.
Buckner’s 9.5 sacks on the season are the most by a defensive tackle in a single season for the history of the Colts franchise.
Most sacks by a DT in franchise history.
Good season for our first round pick. 💪 pic.twitter.com/gHwL9h1fob
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) January 5, 2021
He led the team in sacks (9.5), tackles for loss (10), quarterback hits (26) and total pressures (53). He was also third on the Colts with 30 defensive stops, per Pro Football Focus.
All this just to be snubbed a Pro Bowl nod.
Buckner proved in 2020 that he is the Colts’ best player. When he’s not on the field, the defense is far more susceptible to big plays. Just take a look at what happened in Week 13 when the Colts got torched by the Titans—the week Buckner missed due to COVID-19.
The Colts defense is a unit that works collectively but they get their spark from the three-technique in Buckner.
Though they plan for Buckner to be here for a while, he’s already making his mark on the franchise record books.
