The Indianapolis Colts roster from 2023 wasn’t drastically different from the 2022 roster. In the few places where changes were made, an argument can be made that Indianapolis downgraded. Still, the Colts went from being a four-win team in 2022 to a nine-win team in 2023. After having the fourth-overall pick after last season, Indy was just a few plays away from a playoff berth this season.
The biggest difference for the team was head coach Shane Steichen. He and his staff created a culture of accountability within the organization, leading to players individually improving, making the entire team better. Which player improved the most, though, this past season?
Zoltán Buday answered that question for all 32 teams in a recent piece for PFF. For Indianapolis, Buday made the case that veteran defensive back Kenny Moore II was the most improved.
Kenny Moore II named most-improved player for Colts
Buday pointed out that Moore’s PFF grade in 2022 was 55.7. This past season, it was up to 77.4, reaching career highs in different categories. Buday also made clear that PFF grades influenced the list, but weren’t the sole determining factor.
Kenny Moore II undoubtedly had an incredible bounce-back season. A year ago, there were talks of him being traded because he wasn’t producing in the new system. This year, he once again looked like the elite version of himself, just in time for free agency.
While Moore certainly has a case for being the most-improved player on the team, it’s tough to accept him getting the title since he had already established himself as a top player. Younger guys like Bernhard Raimann and Samson Ebukam seem like better fits, since they took their games to uncharted territories of their respective careers this past season. Raimann at left tackle played a big role in the offensive line bouncing back and Ebukam at defensive end led a productive pass rush. Both players improved significantly and had a direct impact on the team’s success.