Per longtime general manager Chris Ballard, two Indianapolis Colts players, quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. and cornerback Kenny Moore II, were not present on the first day of the team’s offseason workouts—as each player’s representation is currently exploring trade opportunities respectively (via ESPN’s Stephen Holder):
It’s not exactly surprising, as Richardson’s camp was reportedly given permission by the Colts to seek out a trade earlier this offseason after starting quarterback Daniel Jones was re-signed and is now entrenched as the team’s QB1. Even when healthy, Richardson has seemed to fall out of favor with Colts head coach Shane Steichen, and both sides could arguably use a much needed change of scenery.
Via OverTheCap, the Colts could save a projected $5.386M by trading Richardson this offseason.
In the Colts’ case, 2nd-year pro Riley Leonard, after an encouraging debut career start in last year’s regular season finale, seems capable of serving as Indy’s primary backup quarterback behind Jones going forward in place of Richardson—if needed and called upon.
Meanwhile, Moore II, the longtime Colts slot cornerback and defensive leader of their locker room, who’s spent the last 9 seasons in Indianapolis and earned Pro bowl honors back in 2021, has agreed with the team to mutually explore trade opportunities—meaning that they’ll likely part ways soon.
The 30-year-old veteran slot corner hasn’t been as natural of a scheme fit in Colts veteran defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo’s defense, and Indianapolis could look to get younger by playing 2nd-year corner Justin Walley, who missed all of his rookie season with a torn ACL suffered in training camp.
However, Walley initially impressed and was one of last year’s training camp breakout performers leading up to the devastating knee injury, even projected as a starting outside cornerback opposite Charvarius Ward (which was before Sauce Gardner’s surprising trade deadline arrival)—and as a rookie at that.
The Colts could save a projected $7.060M by trading Moore II before June 1st this offseason (via OverTheCap).
What’s interesting here is that Holder indicated that Ballard alluded to Moore II being outright released, if a suitable trade couldn’t be worked out with another team—which wasn’t portrayed by Ballard as the same case for Richardson, given the differing circumstances, including the positional and glaring age differential respectively:
