For quite a while, Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner has been the source of several trade rumors, but on Wednesday morning the Colts made a move that not only seems to indicate that he will be back with the team, but also clears some valuable space on the team’s salary cap.
According to league insider Tom Pelissero of The NFL Network, the Rams have converted $5 million of Buckner’s salary to salary into a signing bonus, which is big for both him and the team.
“The #Colts converted $5 million of DT DeForest Buckner’s salary this season into a signing bonus, clearing $2.5M in cap space. He’ll still make $19.75M, which is now fully guaranteed,” Pelissero said in
Obviously, the now fully guaranteed $19.75 million contract would seem to indicate that the team plans to keep Buckner on the roster this season and the extra $2.5 million in salary cap space will go a long way as the team looks to rebuild its roster. It’s a big move, and the NFL world had plenty to say about it on Twitter.
Signals that the Colts are keeping Buckner & that the NFLRum's trade rumor was false.
Colts freed up $2.5m with this restructure & now sit at $22.4m cap space for 2023, 4th most in the NFL.
Only question is, besides rewarding Buckner, what are they freeing the cap for? https://t.co/ELw65vUyMS pic.twitter.com/QgbMcuH6gh
— Jay Robins
mark (@RobinsLucas) April 12, 2023
The Colts already had plenty of room on the salary cap, but this makes even more room for them to potentially make a splash this offseason.
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