The Indianapolis Colts crossed the finish line with one of their top free agents, signing cornerback Kenny Moore II to a three-year deal on Tuesday.
The three-year extensions have been a theme for general manager Chris Ballard, and Moore is the latest to sign on the dotted line. He was their biggest free agent left to re-sign, bringing back a key piece of the secondary.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter was the first to report the news of the signing.
Colts are re-signing CB Kenny Moore to a 3-year, $30 million deal that makes him the highest-paid nickel back in NFL history. The deal was negotiated and confirmed by David Mulugheta and Trevon Smith of Athletes First. pic.twitter.com/xRQcUCxS7s
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 12, 2024
This is the second time Moore has been the highest-paid slot cornerback in the NFL during his career.
It was reported less than an hour earlier than this news that the Colts were making a strong push to bring Moore back. Now, the ink is on the paper, and the Colts will see the return of their top slot defender.
This is a pretty big deal for the Colts’ secondary, which is a major question mark going into the offseason. With Moore and several other in-house players now under contract before free agency, general manager Chris Ballard can focus on bringing in some outside free agents.
The slot position is becoming increasingly vital, and Moore bounced back in a major way after a disappointing 2022 campaign.
According to Pro Football Focus, Moore’s 96.2 passer rating ranked sixth-best among slot defenders with at least 300 coverage snaps from the slot. His 0.93 yards per snap ranked fourth-best while he allowed 5.31 yards after the catch per reception.
Moore’s stout ability as a run defender from the slot also makes him an important piece of the defense.
