Kenny Moore II’s offseason gamble has not paid off the way he hoped.
The former Indianapolis Colts cornerback asked for a trade and then for his release, believing he’d be better suited elsewhere in a defense that would use him more and let him help a team win. With defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo now running the Colts’ defense, Moore’s role had already shrunk, since Anarumo’s system devalues the slot corner position.
But three weeks before the season begins, Moore still does not have a new team.
That leaves the veteran corner in an awkward spot: the Colts’ 2026 money is gone, and nobody else is paying him to play right now. At this point, his best hope may be that an injury opens a door somewhere and a team needs a soon-to-be 31-year-old cornerback in a hurry.
According to 107.5 The Fan’s James Boyd, who also works for The Athletic, Moore is still in the Indianapolis area and doing workouts to stay ready if a team reaches out. It’s a sign that he’s still trying to keep himself in football shape while waiting for a call.
Even if Moore had never asked out, the Colts may have moved on anyway in favor of Justin Walley. Walley is younger and cheaper, and the team had reason to believe it was time to make the switch. Indianapolis wanted to get younger and more athletic, and that naturally put Walley in position to challenge Moore for the nickelback role, or even the starting job.
Walley had already shown the Colts plenty to like. He was strong against the run at Minnesota, then flashed quickness and coverage ability in training camp last year.
A knee injury before the season wiped out his entire rookie year, but he had done enough in camp to leave the team excited about what he could become. He has apparently kept building on that this summer, and he has not disappointed the Colts in training camp this year.
That development has only made Moore look more expendable to other teams. The Colts see a younger option ready to step in, and Moore is left searching for his next landing spot. Still, he gave Indianapolis too many productive seasons to be brushed aside without a second thought, and plenty of Colts fans will be hoping he finds a new home soon.
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