ScoutIndex

IND IND

DeForest Buckner

DT

Drafted 7th overall in the 1st round of the 2016 draft, DeForest Buckner arrived from Oregon. Now with IND, he's in his 11th NFL season. By ScoutIndex Rating he was one of the top DEFs in football last season, scoring a 73.9 (93rd percentile).

Size

6'7", 295#

College

Oregon

Draft

Rd 1, 7th overall (2016)

Seasons

2016–2026

2026 ScoutIndex Rating · DEF

Methodology
79.3

96th percentile among DEFs

6 games

Splash plays×0.15-0.34
Pass rush×0.3+2.31
Ball skills×0.25+0.55
Run defense×0.2+1.38
Availability×0.1+1.25

Career (regular season)

SeasonTmSIGPass ydsPass TDRush ydsRush TDRecRec ydsRec TD
2026IND79.36
2025IND73.910
2024IND7112
2023IND80.317
2022IND80.816
2021IND74.117
2020IND85.215
2019SF73.616
2018SF87.716
2017SF58.715
2016SF64.515

Career profile

Across 11 NFL seasons on file, DeForest Buckner has played in 155 regular-season games, playing for 2 teams: SF (2016–2019), IND (2020–2026).

By the ScoutIndex Rating, his best qualified season was 2018: a 87.7, in the 98th percentile among DEFs that year.

2026 splits

regular season

2026 game log

WkOppLineScore
Week 1BAL—48
Week 2KC—82.6
Week 3HOU—83.4
Week 4WAS—68.5
Week 5PIT—70.8
Week 6TEN—48.2

DeForest Buckner — common questions

What position does DeForest Buckner play?
DeForest Buckner is listed as a DT.
Which teams has DeForest Buckner played for?
In the seasons on file (1999 onward), DeForest Buckner has played for SF (2016–2019), IND (2020–2026).
Where did DeForest Buckner go to college?
DeForest Buckner played college football at Oregon.
When was DeForest Buckner drafted?
DeForest Buckner was selected in round 1, 7th overall, of the 2016 NFL Draft.
How many touchdowns has DeForest Buckner scored?
DeForest Buckner has no rushing, receiving or passing touchdowns in the regular-season games on file.
What is DeForest Buckner's ScoutIndex Rating?
DeForest Buckner rated 79.3 for 2026, the 96th percentile among DEFs (provisional or limited sample). Ratings run 0–99; about 60 is a league-average qualified starter.

Related players

Top teammates, last season on file

Drafted in round 1, 2016

Also from Oregon