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Colts release Kenny Moore II, save $7 M, dead-cap $6 M

5/7/2026

46 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

Colts Release Moore

The Colts released cornerback Kenny Moore II on May 7, 2026 after he requested a trade.
The release saves the team about $7.06 million against the 2026 cap while incurring a $6.05 million dead-cap charge.
Moore was entering the last year of a $30 million extension that would have paid him $9.49 million in base salary for 2026.
The Colts will rely on second-year cornerback Justin Walley to assume the nickel role after Moore’s departure.

Summary

Colts Release Adderley

The Indianapolis Colts released safety Nasir Adderley on Thursday, May 7, 2026, ending his comeback after signing on April 14, 2026.
The move stemmed from a safety-position crunch after Indianapolis added Jonathan Owens, Juanyeh Thomas and drafted AJ Haulcy.
GM Chris Ballard also cut linebacker John Bullock, drafted CJ Allen and Bryce Boettcher, and left a depth chart of Hunter Wohler, Cam Bynum, Owens, Thomas and Haulcy competing for starts.

History

Historical Context

When the 1993 collective bargaining agreement imposed a $34.6 million team salary cap, the NFL began routinely cutting high-cost contracts, as seen when Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones released veteran contracts that year. Decades later, Indianapolis Colts GM Chris Ballard’s 2026 releases of Kenny Moore II and Nasir Adderley to shed $13 million in dead-cap illustrate the same cap-driven roster reshaping.

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Colts Release Moore

The Colts released cornerback Kenny Moore II on May 7, 2026 after he requested a trade.
The release saves the team about $7.06 million against the 2026 cap while incurring a $6.05 million dead-cap charge.
Moore was entering the last year of a $30 million extension that would have paid him $9.49 million in base salary for 2026.
The Colts will rely on second-year cornerback Justin Walley to assume the nickel role after Moore’s departure.

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