Chris Ballard opens up about Ryan Kelly and Kenny Moore’s future with the Colts

With rumors swirling about Ryan Kelly and Kenny Moore, Chris Ballard spoke to the media about both players’ future with the Indianapolis Colts.

All offseason, there have been rumors and reports about the Indianapolis Colts possibly trading Ryan Kelly, Kenny Moore II, and DeForest Buckner, some of Indy’s most tenured and productive veterans. Just recently, Buckner put a stop to all of the trade reports surrounding his name, and on Monday, general manager Chris Ballard put a stop to the trade reports about Kelly and Moore.

Speaking with the media at the NFL’s league meeting in Arizona on Monday, Ballard revealed that teams did call the Colts about potential trades, but admitted that, ultimately, they’ll be on the roster for next season. Ballard explained, “they’re both great Colts, and we’re glad they’re here.”

Ryan Kelly and Kenny Moore will both be with the Colts in 2023, per GM Chris Ballard. A few teams called about potential trades, but Ballard wasn't willing to pull the trigger. "They're both great Colts, and we're glad they're here."
— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) March 27, 2023

Kenny Moore and Ryan Kelly will remain with Colts in 2023

Moore is entering the final season of his contract, and Kelly has two seasons remaining. Considering the cap hits of both players, and the fact that they both had down seasons in 2022, many believed that Indianapolis would move them to clear cap space and add draft picks. However, they’ll be returning in their starting roles for another season as they try to bounce back along with the Colts.

Both of them are apart of the most concerning position groups for Indianapolis. Since Indy traded Stephon Gilmore to the Dallas Cowboys, the cornerback position is lacking depth. Keeping Moore in the secondary will help Indy rebuild at cornerback quicker. With competent defensive backs, the Colts should have a solid defense like they did last year.

What Indianapolis didn’t have last year was a good offensive line. While Indy hasn’t added to the line yet, keeping Kelly could work out for the better. Ryan Kelly didn’t have his best season at center in 2022, but he’s still Indy’s best option. The Colts must hope that players like Kelly, Quenton Nelson, and Braden Smith can turn their play around, while also trying to find a right guard in free agency.

Now that it’s clear the majority of Indy’s veterans will be returning, the Colts must adequately fill in the holes on the roster in free agency and the draft, so that Indianapolis can be a competitive team next season.

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