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Saints are fit for Colts nickel Kenny Moore II in search for new team
TL;DR
The New Orleans Saints are considering veteran defensive back Kenny Moore II, recently released by the Indianapolis Colts, to strengthen their roster. Moore's experience and performance in zone coverage could provide a temporary solution for the Saints' slot position.
Key points
- Saints are one of the NFL's ten youngest teams
- Kenny Moore II was released by the Colts
- Moore has lined up in the slot on 4,804 of his career snaps
- Moore has fewer missed tackles than Alontae Taylor
- Moore could be a temporary fix for the Saints
New Orleans SaintsIndianapolis ColtsKenny Moore IIAlontae Taylor
We've seen the New Orleans Saints embrace their youth movement this offseason, and now they're one of the NFL's ten youngest teams. That doesn't mean they should avoid good players over 30 out of principle. With the Indianapolis Colts releasing veteran defensive back Kenny Moore II from his contract, it's an opportunity to clean up one of their weakest roster. Someone needs to take over from Alontae Taylor in the slot, and that player may not be on the roster right now. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported news of Moore's release, with his colleague Jeremy Fowler noting that "Moore was due $10M in 2026, but this move wasn't really about that -- more so getting into the right fit and scheme for the player."
Taylor, 32, led the Saints with 566 snaps in the slot last season; every other defender combined for just 363 snaps. If they had to play a game today, it would probably be a safety like Julian Blackmon manning the slot when the Saints work out of nickel personnel. Moore lined up in the slot on 4,804 of his 7,742 career snaps with the Colts.
What about in zone coverage? The Saints shifted to more zone looks under Brandon Staley (about 68% of the time) than when Dennis Allen was running the defense (at almost 61%), per Pro Football Focus charting. Last season, Taylor ranked 94th in NFL passer rating allowed among 133 qualifying defensive backs. Moore ranked 46th. Taylor also gave up three touchdown passes when working out of zone, but Moore didn't allow any.
Q&A
Why did the Colts release Kenny Moore II?
The Colts released Kenny Moore II primarily to find a better fit for his playing style and scheme, despite him being due $10M in 2026.
How does Kenny Moore II compare to Alontae Taylor in coverage?
Kenny Moore II ranked 46th in passer rating allowed among defensive backs, while Alontae Taylor ranked 94th, indicating Moore's superior performance in coverage.
What are Kenny Moore II's strengths as a defensive back?
Kenny Moore II is known for his reliable tackling and fewer missed tackles compared to Alontae Taylor, making him a potentially better fit for the Saints' defensive scheme.
