The Indianapolis Colts made a couple of proper moves in free agency when the team agreed to terms with quarterback Daniel Jones and wide receiver Alec Pierce, but other moves that general manager Chris Ballard made were odd. That is especially true of the additions of new cornerbacks.
Indy didn't appear to have a need at the position as the Colts could enter next season with Sauce Gardner and Charvarius Ward at outside corner and the solid Kenny Moore II in the slot. Not so fast, as it turns out. Indianapolis and Moore have reportedly mutually agreed to seek trade options that would send the veteran elsewhere.
In other words, Indy signing Cam Taylor-Britt and re-signing Cameron Mitchell likely meant the team was looking to replace Moore, though neither Taylor-Britt nor Mitchell would seem set to be as good. Moore might be an aging slot corner, but he remains a good one.
Indianapolis Colts looking to trade veteran cornerback Kenny Moore II
Justin Walley might also be a logical replacement for Moore, but Walley missed all of his rookie season with a torn ACL. His long-term quality is in question because he hasn't yet had a chance to prove himself in the NFL. He might be quite good, or he might never be as good as Kenny Moore could be in 2026 and beyond.
According to NFL insider Adam Schefter, "Moore is entering the last year of his contract, and both sides feel it is time to explore a trade."
Moore's cap hit next season is $13,110,000, per Over the Cap, and trading him would save the team $7,060,000. That doesn't mean Ballard has a plan for what to do with the savings. The Colts have cash to spend as the Jones and Pierce deals have a lower cap hit in year one. With the newly created cap, Ballard has done very little.
What Chris Ballard has done this offseason defensively is questionable. Nick Cross and Kwity Paye left in free agency, and Zaire Franklin was traded. While none of those players were elite, they were starters, and the defensive cohesion might suffer without them. Trading Moore would mean another starter from the last year would be gone, which would make five, including linebacker Germaine Pratt.
Kenny Moore has remained among the better nickelbacks in the NFL. He could be upgraded, maybe, but the team has no obvious replacements of his quality. Moore being available in a trade makes two players the Indianapolis Colts are open to shopping. Quarterback Anthony Richardson is the other, but has had no takers yet.
As for what the Colts can get for Moore? Likely, not a lot. He is now 32 years old and is restricted to a position. Should the team get a fifth-round pick for him, that might be a massive win.