The NFL preseason is underway, and Week 1 is just one month away. That doesn't mean there aren't still some quality players without teams, though.
On the defensive side of the ball, one of the most prominent remaining free agents is cornerback Kenny Moore II. Moore is a one-time Pro Bowler who has been considered one of the best nickel corners in the league.
The Colts cut the veteran after failing to find a trade partner this offseason. Shockingly, no team has reeled the cover man in just yet, but he should be expected to sign soon. Could the Panthers be interested?
Why Panthers Make Sense for Moore
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This offseason, Chau Smith-Wade and Corey Thornton are battling to be the Panthers' nickel corner. Smith-Wade was a fifth-round pick in 2024 who delivered mixed results in 2025, while Thornton played sparingly in 2025 as an undrafted free agent.
Both guys have had nice moments this summer while splitting reps. Interestingly, though, the Panthers didn't list a nickel corner on the initial depth chart. Instead, Thornton and Smith-Wade were listed as the primary backups to Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson.
It was also reported that Horn got some snaps in the nickel for the first time. This was due to rookie Will Lee III impressing on the boundary, and also seemingly indicates the team isn't thrilled with Smith-Wade or Thornton.
Signing Kenny Moore II would immediately take away any worries. Moore has 111 starts under his belt, one Pro Bowl appearance, and 21 interceptions. When you think about reliable nickel corners, Moore is one of the first names that comes to mind.
The veteran wasn't bad in 2025, either, despite getting released. Moore played in 14 games for the Colts and collected 55 tackles, six pass breakups, and one interception. Pro Football Focus gave Moore a respectable 66.7 grade, which ranked 39th out of 114 qualified corners.
In Carolina, Moore would be a nice one-year stopgap at least. Smith-Wade and Thornton are young and could greatly benefit from a veteran like Moore.
Moore Signing Would Also Help Depth
Even if Moore has lost a step and isn't the elite nickel he once was, his addition would still help the depth. The Panthers' backup defensive backs were terrible in the Hall of Fame Game, so if Horn or Jackson goes down, things could get scary.
Bringing Moore into the mix would give the team another reliable body and he'd be a solid mentor as well. Moore could also be interested in joining an exciting, young team coming off a division title considering he's played his entire career with the Colts so far.
