The Indianapolis Colts may have had its issues lately, and especially last season, but there's also no denying there are some true superstars on the roster. One in particular could be denied by absolutely no one: DeForest Buckner. He is one of the best defensive tackles in the league, and is known not only for his excellent performance on the field, but for his leadership off the field, too.
He was ranked by Pro Football Focus as seventh among all defensive tackles in pass-rush win rate, 12th in pass rush productivity, and ninth in run-stop rate. He was also named as the Colts' Ed Block Courage Award winner last season, for his performance on and off the field. And while he gets plenty of accolades, he arguably deserves more.
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler ranked the top 10 defensive tackles in the league, based on interviews with league executives, coaches and scouts. Buckner came in at #8, with one executive calling him the most underrated player in the league.
Here is what Fowler had to report about Buckner:
"The tallest player on this list (6-foot-7) continues to play big, averaging 8.4 sacks per season since 2018.Jeremy Fowler
'The most underrated defensive player in the league,' a high-ranking AFC personnel exec said.
Despite missing five games last season, Buckner continues to disrupt opposing offensive lines. His 16.4% pass rush win rate ranked second among the top 10, trailing Jones. As multiple voters pointed out, Buckner isn't in Tier 1 but will always hang around in the top 10 because of his consistency.
'His game will age well because of his length, technique and high motor,' an NFL personnel evaluator said."
As Fowler pointed out, Buckner was injured for part of the season, and he also was dealing with a subpar Colts defense as well. Buckner, along with Grover Stewart, were epic members of the defensive line, and while Kwity Paye and Laiatu Latu both show promise, they weren't anywhere near Buckner's level. The defensive line was overall middling last season, but the hope is that the group will take a step forward in 2025 under Lou Anarumo's leadership.