Kenny Moore is with the Indianapolis Colts no more. After failing to work out a trade for the defensive back, Moore asked for his release, and the team reportedly granted him his wish. He is now a free agent.
To be sure, the move isn't overly shocking. The cornerback is now in his early-30s and positionally inflexible. He was a slot corner and nothing else. The Colts also have his likely successor on the roster in the person of Justin Walley.
Indy wasn't going to be able to get a high-round draft pick for him, and it seems that even a low-round choice wasn't something another team wanted to part with. Moore isn't a bad person, of course, but he also isn't a long-term answer at nickelback due to his age.
Indianapolis Colts release cornerback Kenny Moore II
Being released is probably best for the player, and for Indianapolis, the team will save $7,060,000, assuming the move is a pre-June 1 one. Had the team released Moore with a post-June 1 designation, Indianapolis would have saved close to $10 million; $3 million is a chunk of change, but likely not big enough to have the Colts keep Moore around for another month.
What isn't known for sure yet is whether the release will come with that designation. It might. Either way, Kenny Moore is not free to negotiate with any team that might have him. He wants to try to win a Super Bowl, but few contenders are in great need of a nickelback. One such team could be the Dallas Cowboys.
Dallas has an outside chance of contending in 2026, but is not among the favorites. Should they offer something to Moore, that could be his best possibility of reaching the Super Bowl.
The Indianapolis Colts also released veteran safety Nasir Adderley and waived linebacker John Bullock. What made Thursday the day that Indy decided to trim its roster is not known, but all the moves needed to be made. Adderly, for instance, hasn't played since 2022 after retiring previously, and was unlikely to make Indy's roster.
The next move the Colts could make is trading or releasing Anthony Richardson, another player who has requested to leave the team. His release, however, is far more unlikely than Kenny Moore's. The quarterback is still young enough (he's just 24 years old) to make a potential impact with Indianapolis or elsewhere, making his trade value seemingly higher.