Since his arrival in Indianapolis, Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner has been arguably one of the league’s best players at his respective position amongst the AFC.

Pro Football Focus recently released a list ranking their top interior defenders ahead of the 2024 season. The Colts’ Buckner comes in at sixth overall, ranking just behind the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Cameron Heyward.

There’s a reason the Colts rewarded the two-time Pro Bowl selection with a two-year, $46 million contract extension back in April. Buckner has been a perennial defender for Indianapolis’ defensive line since being acquired via trade from the San Francisco 49ers prior to the 2020 season.

More specifically, Buckner, who has appeared in all 17 games in each of the last three seasons for the Colts, has recorded eight sacks in two of the last three campaigns to go along with a combined 155 tackles, 22 tackles-for-loss and 43 quarterback hits.

The 30-year-old superstar defensive tackle has showed no signs of slowing down either. In total, Buckner has recorded 32.5 sacks in his four seasons with Indianapolis. Additionally, according to Pro Football Focus, Buckner totaled more than 50 pressures in each of the last two seasons, with 90 defensive stops further adding to his level of play over that stretch.

The Colts are certainly hoping Buckner can continue to play at the elite level he’s shown them over the last few seasons. Indianapolis set a franchise record with 51 total sacks during the 2023 season, with Buckner playing a pivotal role in their defensive line’s dominant play over the course of last season.

Buckner and the rest of the Colts’ defense will almost certainly be looking to top that in 2024. Putting together that kind of season will be no easy feat, but it doesn’t seem out of the realm of possibilities that the Colts could once again position themselves to be amongst the NFL’s best pass-rushing units this season.