Kenny Moore II inked a three-year, $30 million contract this offseason, his second significant pact with the Indianapolis Colts. But before he was known as one of the best nickel corners in the NFL, the former undrafted free agent was scrapping for a job.
After going undrafted in 2017 out of Valdosta State, Moore signed in New England, joining a Super Bowl-winning squad with the likes of Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski and Stephon Gilmore. The rookie flashed during camp, but at 5-foot-9, 190 pounds, a job wasn’t a given.
“I felt like I had done everything I could and I was going to let the pieces shake out," Moore recently relayed about his days in New England, via Mike Chappell of Fox 59. "My teammates were more confident in me than I was in myself."
On cutdown day, he and other rookies on the bubble waited at a team hotel to find out if they’d have a job.
“We were up talking about, ‘What’s going to happen? What’s going to happen?' " Moore said. “They were all saying, ‘You’re going to be on a team regardless.’
“I honestly didn’t understand the process, the waiver process. All I knew was the team has got to cut down to 53 guys."
Moore received notice he’d been among the final cuts.
But as the door in New England shut, one opened in Indy.
Despite questions about his size, the Colts scooped up Moore off waivers. The rest is history.
The 29-year-old has spent seven seasons in Indianapolis, growing into one of the club’s most important players, starting 89 games and earning a Pro Bowl nod in 2021 (frankly, he could have earned a couple of other Pro Bowl bids).
A host of players will experience some of what Moore went through in 2017 as roster cuts from 90 to 53 are due today at 4 p.m. -- one of the worst days in the NFL calendar. Some will see their careers end. Others will find new homes in which to thrive.
Colts coach Shane Steichen’s message to those who might be released is simple:
“Just keep fighting,’’ he said. “You’ve got a dream, go chase it and keep going.’’
You never know who might make that next waiver claim.