Buckner excluded from ESPN’s top 10 defensive tackles list
League personnel cite reduced game time over the past two seasons as the primary factor in DeForest Buckner’s drop from the eighth-ranked position in 2025.
Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner has been omitted from ESPN’s latest ranking of the top 10 defensive tackles in the NFL, a notable shift from his eighth-place standing in 2025. The exclusion underscores a growing emphasis on availability within league evaluations, with personnel attributing the drop directly to Buckner’s reduced presence on the field rather than any deterioration in his on-field capabilities.
Buckner has played in only 22 games over the past two seasons, a significant reduction in workload driven by persistent injury issues. This trend culminated in a season-ending neck injury in 2025 that required surgery and caused him to miss seven games during that campaign. Despite entering his age-32 season, Buckner remains a central figure in the Colts’ defensive structure, having joined the franchise in 2020 after beginning his career with the San Francisco 49ers.
The methodology behind ESPN’s rankings relies on input from league executives, scouts, and coaches, reflecting a consensus view of positional hierarchy. While Buckner missed the cut this year, three other former University of Oregon players retained their spots on their respective top 10 lists: quarterback Justin Herbert at No. 7, offensive tackle Penei Sewell at No. 1, and cornerback Christian Gonzalez at No. 3.
Coaches and league insiders have been vocal in defending Buckner’s current standing. An NFL defensive line coach noted there has been "no real drop-off in his play," describing the 6-foot-7, 295-pounder as "still elite -- just older and injured." During the 2025 season, Buckner recorded 47 tackles, four sacks, and seven run stuffs, statistics that remain robust even when prorated to a full 17-game schedule.
Buckner’s career trajectory includes two All-Pro selections and a cumulative total of 652 tackles, 71.5 sacks, and 28 pass deflections over ten years. His availability for the upcoming training camp remains uncertain, although there is optimism among the organisation that he will be ready for Week 1. The omission from the top 10 list marks a statistical inevitability for a player of his tenure and age, yet his status as a dominant force in Indianapolis remains undiminished.
