Predicting Kenny Moore II’s Possible Colts Contract Extension

admin | February 15, 2024 | Uncategorized | No Comments

Kenny Moore II, a cornerback with the Indianapolis Colts, earned a Pro Bowler in Indiana and wants to stay there.

Chris Ballard has consistently preached “growing and keeping our own,” referring to the Indianapolis Colts’ desire to reward players who have been with the team since the start of their careers with long-term contracts as they have developed into good, and sometimes great, players.

Kenny Moore II was among these players. Moore was acquired by the Colts in 2017, after the New England Patriots waived the undrafted rookie from Valdosta State. Moore began on special teams but worked his way into the starting lineup at the end of his rookie season. Moore went on to become one of the NFL’s top slot cornerbacks.

Moore’s career statistics include 516 tackles, 32 tackles for loss, 17 interceptions, 55 passes defensed, 9.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, and three defensive touchdowns. Moore was also named for the 2021 Pro Bowl and has developed into a defensive star for the Colts over the years. Not bad for a player who nearly missed out on the NFL only seven years ago.

Moore, who signed a four-year, $33.3 million contract with the Colts prior to the 2019 season, will become a free agency this spring. Moore, like Michael Pittman Jr. and Grover Stewart, is one of the Colts’ most key in-house free agents this offseason. Both parties would like to see Moore return if the price is right.

Let’s look at how the Colts have handled cornerback signings in recent years, as well as what players at Moore’s level have signed for, to help forecast the specifics of a prospective contract extension.

Since Chris Ballard became general manager of the Colts in 2017, cornerback has been a position littered with one- and two-year contracts. However, if the Colts believe they can land or keep a top-tier cornerback, Ballard has not been reluctant to offer long-term contracts.

Here are the contracts Ballard has handed to cornerbacks in the seven offseasons he has been in charge of the Colts:

As we’ve seen with wide receiver and defensive tackle signings under Ballard, the majority of cornerback additions have been for less than $5 million in average annual value (AAV). However, the Colts have offered larger contracts to cornerbacks when they believe the player can make a difference. Some athletes who signed for less than $5 million have had successful seasons as well.

Moore’s situation differs in that he has spent the last seven years with the Colts. He has already obtained a long-term extension with the Colts and has more than fulfilled the terms of his deal signed in 2019. Indianapolis understands Moore’s importance to their defense, especially given how young the Colts’ current secondary is.

Linebacker Zaire Franklin discussed Moore’s value to the defense and the club as a whole at the end of the season.

“I couldn’t put any more flowers on Kenny’s desk if I wanted to,” Franklin went on to say. “Just his leadership for me, a guy I look up to in this building. To be honest, I always tell him that I don’t know how it works without his being honest with you. He was a guiding light in that DB room with all those rookie DBs, serving as the main communicator and playmaker.

“He means so much to this team, to myself, and to everyone in that locker room. Kenny has been a constant for us for a long time. I don’t want to know how it feels without him.”

Moore is a strong candidate for an extension with the Colts. The question is: how much will that cost?

Comparable Players to Moore

When discussions begin, teams and agents consult existing contracts in the league to help determine the market for a potential agreement. Moore’s negotiations will be no different, with his representatives handling the cornerback’s new contract.

To get a better indication of where Moore’s next contract would go, look at cornerbacks who are comparable to him in terms of production and importance to their team, as well as those who inked contracts in recent seasons. Kendall Fuller of the Washington Commanders, Darious Williams of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Jonathan Jones of the Patriots, and Byron Murphy of the Minnesota Vikings are the players who most closely resemble Moore.

Cornerbacks who play the majority of their snaps on the outside are compensated differently than those who primarily play in the slot. While some of these players now play outside corners for their respective teams, they obtained their contracts while playing in the slot. Outside of Fuller, all of the deals these players earned were signed before the 2022 season, ensuring that they correctly represent the slot cornerback market.

When comparing the output of these four defenders to Moore, here are each cornerback’s overall statistics for the two seasons preceding their extensions:

Fuller (27 games): 131 tackles, four tackles for loss, two interceptions, 14 passes defended, a forced fumble
Williams (30 games): 115 tackles, four tackles for loss, four interceptions, 23 passes defended
Jones (22 games): 89 tackles, five interceptions, 14 passes defended, three forced fumbles
Murphy (25 games): 100 tackles, three tackles for loss, four interceptions, 16 passes defended, a forced fumble

The averages for these categories are 26 games, 109 tackles, three tackles for loss, four interceptions, 17 passes defensed, and one forced fumble. Moore has 28 games played in the last two seasons, 158 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, three interceptions, 10 passes defended, and no forced fumbles. Moore has the most tackles and tackles for loss of any player, while also ranking second in interceptions and passes defensed.

After viewing how the cornerbacks match up in terms of production, here are the agreements each earned and their average annual value:

Fuller: Four-year, $40 million deal ($10 million AAV)
Williams: Three-year, $30 million deal ($10 million AAV)
Jones: Two-year, $19 million deal ($9.5 million AAV)
Murphy: Two-year, $17.5 million deal ($8.75 million AAV)

The past extensions granted to these four provide the Colts and Moore’s camp with a starting point for discussions. Both parties will most certainly make claims to drive up the price, but as Ballard likes to say, “the market is what it is.”

Moore Than Just Money

Moore is definitely nearing the end of his career, but he can still play at a high level. Moore proved in 2023 that he is still one of the top slot cornerbacks in the NFL, capable of making plays across the field. His leadership in a young cornerback room will continue to benefit the team.

After reviewing comparable players in the league and their contracts, Moore’s contract extension could be a two-year, $20.5 million agreement ($10.25 million AAV). Moore would become the 19th-highest-paid cornerback in terms of AAV and the highest-paid slot cornerback in the NFL after signing the agreement.

Moore would receive nearly $2 million more in AAV than his current contract, which is a hefty bump for the Pro Bowl cornerback. The pact also protects the Colts in the future, as it will expire shortly after Moore turns 30. The Colts can then decide whether to extend Moore beyond that point or move on if his performance begins to deteriorate.

Moore is one of the Colts’ most popular players with both the team and fans. He offers a playmaking skill to Gus Bradley’s defense that few other players can match. The Colts would be wise to sign the man they call “Lightning in a Bottle” for at least the next few seasons.