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In a move that comes as no surprise, the 49ers have exercised DeForest Buckner’s fifth-year contract option, the club announced Wednesday.
Buckner is eligible for a contract extension as he enters his fourth NFL season, but there has been no rush to solidify a long-term deal with the fifth-year option in play. Last week, Buckner said there were conversations “here and there,” but “it’s still very early.”
“I am really just looking forward to being here with the team long term,” Buckner said.
On Monday, 49ers general manager John Lynch reciprocated those thoughts.
“He’s a little younger in his career, but I would love nothing more than for DeFo to be here,” Lynch said. “We’ve got a long time to work on that. He’s very important to us. He’s another guy who’s a big part of what we’re doing. Just love everything about him and the way he goes about his business, his profession. I think he’s a special player and we’d like to keep him here for a long time.”
Buckner, the No. 7 overall pick in the 2016 draft, is scheduled to make $12.5 million in 2020. He enters the final year of his four-year, $18.2 million contract this upcoming season. He will make more than $2.9 million in cash in 2019.
Buckner has emerged as a franchise cornerstone during his three years with the team. In 47 starts, he amassed 215 tackles, 21 sacks, eight passes defensed, three fumble recoveries, and one forced fumble. His best year came in 2018, which culminated in a Pro Bowl appearance as an NFC alternate. He registered a career-high 12 sacks — the most for a 49ers player since Aldon Smith had 19.5 in 2012 — and 17 tackles for loss.