CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA – JANUARY 30: DeForest Buckner #99 of the San Francisco 49ers stretches during practice for Super Bowl LIV at the Greentree Practice Fields on the campus of the University of Miami on January 30, 2020 in Coral Gables, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
The Indianapolis Colts once again earn high marks for their draft class after another strong rookie haul assembled by Chris Ballard.
The Indianapolis Colts were without a first-round pick this year after trading it to the San Francisco 49ers in a deal for defensive tackle DeForest Buckner. The 49ers ended up using that pick on defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw, so it will be easy to compare this (sort of) player-for-player swap over the years to see how both sides came out.
That said, the Colts are in win-now mode given the window that Philip Rivers provides them at quarterback, and Buckner has already proven his mettle at the highest level. He was foundational for the Niners resurgence in the NFC West, and his Super Bowl experience and consistently disruptive presence is going to give the Colts front line the leap they need to make it to the next level.
Kinlaw is going to be a nice young player for the 49ers, but the Colts needed someone who can make everyone around him better. A rising tide raises all ships so expect better overall production from younger players like Kemoko Turay and Ben Banogu.