Kenny Moore's eight-year tenure with Indianapolis comes to an end as he was released after a trade failed to materialize.
The Indianapolis Colts cut ties with one of their most veteran players who was incredibly valuable as a leader in the locker room in a shocker release that no one really saw coming. The Colts cut cornerback Kenny Moore II on Thursday after being unable to fulfill a recent trade request, ending an eight-year run with one of the pillars of the franchise.
After conversations this offseason with general manager Chris Ballard, Moore had recently requested a trade, to which Indianapolis agreed to explore. However, nothing came out of it ahead of rookie minicamp. The move will save the Colts a bit more than $7 million in cap space, as Moore was owed $10 million for 2026.
Moore has been with the team since 2017 when he was claimed off waivers and immediately shot up as one of the best slot corners in the league. Moore made 111 starts for the Colts and posted an impressive 21 interceptions, 11.5 sacks, six forced fumbles, leading to a Pro Bowl selection in 2021. His leadership and impact off the field is exemplified by his three nominees for the Walter Payton Man of the Year award due to his work in the local community.
To read more about the surprising release, here is the full story from Colts Roundtable writer Jake Arthur.
With the Colts switching to a more man-heavy scheme due to the personnel of Sauce Gardner and Charvarius Ward, that left Moore as an odd man out with his prowess more in zone coverage, making scheme fit an issue, with age as an additional factor as he nears 31 years old.
He was part of a trio released on Thursday, ultimately signaling an overall in the secondary as the team looks to younger draft picks moving forward.