The Indianapolis Colts are open to trading slot cornerback Kenny Moore, and the veteran seems fine with that, too. As good as he has been, he is now in his 30s, and Indy wants to get younger defensively, though that could come at a price to talent if Moore is moved.
Ahead of the 2026 NFL draft, though, Moore is still on the roster. The team isn't forced to find a replacement for him right away, though they might hope Justin Walley is that player. If general manager Chris Ballard wants to stick to his vision of a revamped defense, however, he won't wait until Moore is gone to potentially upgrade the unit.
Instead, the Colts might have a potentially game-changing defensive back fall in their laps in the second round, even if Indy tries to move up just a bit via a trade. If Ballard is aggressive, he will find any way possible to take Indiana Hoosiers defensive back D'Angelo Ponds.
Indianapolis Colts should choose D'Angelo Ponds in the 2026 NFL draft to replace Kenny Moore
The Indiana DB's only flaw is something he cannot control: He doesn't have the ideal height and weight for the NFL. He is listed at 5'9" and 182 pounds, but might be a bit shorter and lighter than that. His athleticism and college production are without question very good; however, he might fall in the draft because of his size.
If he falls all the way to the second round, Ballard has to make a play, as Ponds could be a Week 1 replacement for Moore. If Indy truly wants to get younger and more athletic, Ponds should be the one to be the new Moore.
If the Indianapolis Colts, or any other team in the NFL, needed further proof of Ponds' technique in tackling despite his size, one need look no further than his mere three percent missed tackle rate last season. He never missed more than 8.3 percent of his tackle attempts in college, a great number for any cornerback, no matter their size.
His coverage skills are elite. He allowed a quarterback rating of only 54.7 in three college seasons, and gave up just four touchdowns, but had seven interceptions. He had 26 passes defended.
If D'Angelo Ponds were 6'1" and weighed 200 pounds, he would be a high first-round pick. He still has that skill level. The Colts will soon need fast defensive backs who can be elite disruptors, and Ponds is that guy. There would be no excuse for Indy to choose him if given a chance, and replace the soon-to-be outgoing Kenny Moore.
Add us as a preferred source on Google