According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter on ‘The Pat McAfee Show’ with host Pat McAfee, he anticipates that the Indianapolis Colts will complete a trade for veteran slot cornerback Kenny Moore II around late April’s upcoming NFL Draft weekend:
“I think that you will see a slew of moves made draft weekend,” Schefter said on Monday’s ‘The Pat McAfee Show. “To me, it wouldn’t surprise, (if) ‘Day 2’ or ‘Day 3,’ we saw Kenny Moore dealt at that point in time to a team that likes him, that didn’t get a slot cornerback
that it wanted.”
“You always see moves like that made around the draft. I think that’s the first and next window to see a Kenny Moore trade here ‘Day 3’ or so, and look it’s out there, people will know that he’s available, and it sounds like he and the Colts have had very amenable conversations. They’re both on the same page here. And now, it’s only a matter of where he’s sent to during the draft I would guess.”
Logically, it makes sense that the draft could be the league’s next expected window of a multitude of moves, where teams typically are more active and looking to wheel-and-deal.
The Colts are likely hoping for an early ‘Day 3’ draft pick in return for the 30-year-old former Pro Bowl slot cornerback, who’s played his entire standout 9-year career in Indianapolis to-date.
Moore II is coming off a 2025 season for the Colts in which he recorded 55 tackles (34 solo), an interception (*returned for a touchdown), 6 passes defensed, 1.5 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles in 14 games (7 starts). However, Moore II wasn’t as natural of a fit in new veteran Indianapolis defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo’s scheme.
Per PFF this past season, Moore II was still tied for their 37th best graded cornerback with a +66.7 overall grade, which was highlighted by a +84.4 run defense grade.
As the Colts have looked to get younger on defense collectively, having also traded former All-Pro veteran linebacker Zaire Franklin, Indianapolis has elected to move on from another one of their longtime veteran defensive leaders now. Moore II was a 3x ‘Walter Payton Man of the Year Award’ nominee for the franchise.
Indy 2nd-year cornerback Justin Walley, who was impressive in training camp before tearing his ACL, appears to be the ‘next man up’ at the starting slot cornerback position as Moore II’s replacement. However, with veteran Charvarius Ward’s lingering concussion history, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Colts took another dip at cornerback again, with Indiana University’s D’Angelo Ponds as a potential prospect to watch at the position.
