2020 saw the execution of a transaction by San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch, who sent DeForest Buckner to the Indianapolis Colts in return for a first-round draft pick. In retrospect, it was the wrong choice because it started a chain reaction. Because of his understanding of the value of a strong defensive line, Lynch made the trade with the intention of strengthening the front for years to come. The 49ers should have kept Buckner instead of experiencing all of the issues they have since had, but regrettably, hindsight is 20/20.
49ers of San Francisco, 2020 Trade Rewind
Lynch stated that Buckner’s worth had increased to the point that the San Francisco 49ers could no longer afford him following the 2020 trade. It became clear in the talks with him that keeping our squad together as we planned to do so wouldn’t be possible, according to ESPN Lynch, citing Nick Wagoner. Buckner then agreed to a four-year, $84 million contract with the Colts.
Subsequently, the 49ers signed other free agents, one of them being defensive tackle Arik Armstead, who signed a five-year, $85 million deal extension. After that, the San Francisco 49ers selected defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw with their first-round pick, which they had acquired from the Indianapolis Colts.
The idea behind the deals was to replace the productivity that they lost when Buckner went with Armstead and Kinlaw, who would become a dominant front-line tandem. The issue is that actual events differ from this.
Armstead and Kinlaw Fight To Take Buckner’s Place
Javon Kinlaw and Arik Armstead have combined for 19.5 sacks in the four seasons following the deal. In Indianapolis, DeForest Buckner had 32.5 sacks by himself throughout the same period.
Kinlaw has had a persistent knee problem throughout his career, making it extremely difficult for him to stay healthy. In 2021, he got knee reconstruction surgery. Kinlaw has missed a total of 26 games throughout his career, according to Eric Branch. Throughout the 2023–2024 campaign, he remained healthy, but by no means did he post impressive stats.
Since the deal, Armstead has amassed 14.5 sacks over the course of four seasons. These aren’t the kinds of figures one would anticipate from a man earning almost $18 million annually. Jennifer Lee Chan claims that since the middle of the 2022 season, Armstead has had a diagnosis of plantar fasciitis in his foot. He will have to deal with this problem for the remainder of his career.
Lynch Almost Acknowledges Errors in Armstead Release, Kinlaw Departure, And Hargrave Signature
Although general manager John Lynch hasn’t admitted to making a mistake, if you’ve been observing recent deals, you know that deeds speak louder than words.
John Lynch and the San Francisco 49ers signed Javon Hargrave from the Philadelphia Eagles, their rival team, during the previous offseason. Hargrave agreed to move to San Francisco for four years and pay $84 million. The deal that Buckner accepted from the Colts is the same one that John Lynch claimed was too expensive for the 49ers to accept.
Recent talks between the two parties concerning a potential pay reduction broke down, leading to the release of Arik Armstead. The purpose of this was to serve as one of the pillars of DeForest Buckner’s place.
Following the 49ers’ decision not to activate his fifth-year option last summer, Javon Kinlaw is now a free agent. Said to be a force for years to come, the 2020 first-round choice has struggled to remain healthy throughout his career, making him something of an outlier.
John Lynch just needed to resign DeForest Buckner in the first place to end this cycle of replacements. His subsequent acts have essentially been an admission of that assertion, and the 49ers of San Francisco are still suffering as a result.
