The Colts on Thursday released veteran cornerback Kenny Moore II and safety Nasir Adderley, the team announced, the report says.
Moore, 30, had recently requested a trade after conversations with general manager Chris Ballard, and the team explored trade possibilities before ultimately releasing him, per the report. Ballard said during the NFL draft that nothing had yet materialized. Moore told ESPN, “It’s all good. It’s all love,” indicating no acrimony between him and the team.
The move came as teams are well into offseason work and the Colts anticipated signing rookies in the coming days during this weekend’s rookie camp, meaning roster spots needed to be created, the report says. Moore was in line to earn $10 million for the 2026 season, and the Colts save just more than $7 million in salary-cap space with the move, the report says.
The report says Moore was one of the team’s longest-tenured players and among its most respected leaders. He joined the Colts as a waiver claim in 2017, became a Pro Bowl selection in 2021 and developed into a top nickel cornerback. Moore started 111 games for Indianapolis and recorded 21 interceptions, 11.5 sacks and six forced fumbles, and he was a three-time Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee in 2021, 2024 and 2025 for his community work in the Indianapolis area.
One potential factor in Moore seeking a change was an anticipated role shift in the Colts’ secondary. The team is believed to be leaning toward more aggressive man-to-man coverage to utilize cornerbacks Sauce Gardner and Charvarius Ward, while Moore built his reputation as a standout in zone coverage; he also will be 31 by Week 1 of the 2026 season, the report says.
The Colts also released safety Nasir Adderley, whom the team signed last month after he abruptly retired three years earlier at age 25, per the report. Adderley was attempting a comeback, but the Colts’ need at safety diminished after selecting former LSU safety A.J. Haulcy in the third round of the draft and with the return of 2025 draftee Hunter Wohler, both expected to compete for the starting strong safety job, the report says.
