The San Francisco 49ers now have two first-round picks. How they got there, though, came as a shock to many.
General manager John Lynch and company traded Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, a respected leader on defense, to the Indianapolis Colts for the No. 13 overall selection in next month's draft.
The news came just hours after reports that San Francisco re-signed defensive end Arik Armstead to a five-year contract, and left 49ers players surprised.
Buckner was preparing to play on his fifth-year option, and the move reportedly creates $12.4 million in salary-cap space for a player the team likely felt it would not be able to re-sign after this year.
Buckner immediately agreed to a new contract with the Colts that will reportedly pay him $21 million annually, which is more than the 49ers could afford.
Below are just a few of the reactions from 49ers players.
Nooooooooooooooooooo
— DJ Jones (@djjones_44) March 16, 2020
My dawg! Ima miss the 🧹 🧹🧹🧹🧹 celebrations! Congrats on the New Bag 🤞🏾 https://t.co/l3jBF4pT9W
— Kwon Alexander (@kwon) March 16, 2020
Ima miss my big uce! Congrats bro! Life always changes! Big bank DFO lol @DeForestBuckner 😩😩 https://t.co/CvKmyqgKBK
— Kendrick Bourne Poly (@BournePoly11) March 16, 2020
😔😔😔 this one hurts but couldn't be happier for someone I look up to for being the pro/person he is, gotta take care of the fam! All love brodie🤞🏾 https://t.co/mrWDO6S75o
— Fred Warner (@fred_warner) March 16, 2020
Straight baller., and an even better person! You'll be missed big dawg. Congrats @DeForestBuckner https://t.co/KShcd20m4e
— Trent Taylor (@Trent5Taylor) March 16, 2020
My man @DeForestBuckner deserves every penny he gets and then some! Gonna miss my guy https://t.co/rxABYId8xl
— Kyle Juszczyk (@JuiceCheck44) March 16, 2020
Congrats @DeForestBuckner !!! You deserve it all brother! 💰💰💰 https://t.co/QXr3iW9XQ4
— George Kittle (@gkittle46) March 16, 2020
Congrats Bra @DeForestBuckner you earned everything you got coming💰💰💰💰💰 https://t.co/Dqk87bD5lO
— Matt Breida (@MattBreida) March 16, 2020
Gonna miss you brotha😔🙏🏾 https://t.co/qRh96AWst8
— Jaquiski 'Quaski' Tartt (@Quaski29) March 16, 2020
Never to be duplicated @DeForestBuckner #twintowers pic.twitter.com/XWLxEaS9DY
— Arik Armstead (@arikarmstead) March 16, 2020
