INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indianapolis Colts cornerback Kenny Moore II wanted a change of scenery, so he asked for a trade.
Now he's a free agent.
After being unable to find a trade partner and using the draft to possibly find a faster replacement, the Colts released the 2021 Pro Bowler on Thursday to give him more time to find a new team.
“I’m not at that point right now, not as of this minute I’m not,” Ballard said before the NFL draft when he was asked
about potentially releasing Moore. "But, yeah, I’ll give him some latitude.”
Moore's request went public in early April.
The Colts spent the past month looking for a team that wanted to take the 30-year-old Moore, a multiyear team captain who earned the respect of his teammates by going from undrafted rookie in 2017 to one of the NFL's best slot cornerbacks. He was scheduled to earn $9.49 million in salary this season.
Moore successfully navigated multiple defensive coordinator changes but as injuries mounted in recent seasons, his productivity declined.
Last season, his first with defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, Moore started just seven of the 14 games he appeared in and had his least productive season since his rookie season. He finished with 55 tackles and broke up only six passes though he returned his only interception 32 yards for the fifth defensive touchdown of his career.
But in Indy, Moore was not just a fixture in the locker room or on the field. He also became a community leader, spending Tuesdays — the NFL's typical in-season day off — teaching life skills to students at Indianapolis Ritter High School. He also partnered with the school to launch the “Rise and Shine Initiative,” a program focused on accountability, consistency and helping students to envision opportunities outside the classroom.
“It feels like I’ve gained little brothers and sisters,” Moore told the NFL Players Association recently during a YouTube episode featuring his work at the high school. ”Just like I want them to do well in the classroom, they want me to do well on Sundays."
It was just one reason Moore was selected as the team's 2025 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award nominee.
Moore had 649 tackles, 68 breakups and returned four of his 21 interceptions for scores during his nine seasons with the Colts. He also returned a fumble for a touchdown in 2024.
The Georgia native's most memorable game came at Carolina in 2023 when he returned both of his interceptions for scores in a 27-13 victory, celebrating the big moment by handing the footballs to family members in the stands. Moore was the ninth player since 2000 to return two interceptions for scores in the same game.
“Because of our respect level for Kenny we said, ‘OK',” Ballard said last month as he discussed Moore's trade requests. “I think most of you know my relationship with him, it’s close. And so those are not always easy conversations, but they were respectful and good, and we’ll see how it works out.”
Indy also released safety Nasir Adderley, a free agent who signed with the Colts in mid-April, and linebacker John Bullock.
Adderley started 44 of his 50 games with the Los Angeles Chargers but had not played since 2022.
Bullock was claimed off waivers from Tampa Bay in January after making 10 special teams tackles with the Buccaneers as a rookie.
Indy is holding its rookie minicamp on Friday and Saturday.
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