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Could the Minnesota Vikings be a potential fit for a veteran player seeking a fresh start somewhere else? On April 10, ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter reported, citing sources, that the Indianapolis Colts and Kenny Moore II have agreed to seek a trade to find the cornerback a new team.
With Moore entering the final year of his contract, Schefter added in his reporting that both sides felt it was time to explore a trade.
In his April 13 column for Sports Illustrated, NFL insider Albert Breer mentioned that a potential trade partner for the Colts could be the Vikings.
“As for potential landing spots, I think Dallas would be one, with the nickel being an important piece in new coordinator Christian Parker’s defense and the Cowboys having a hole after Jourdan Lewis’s departure to the Jaguars last year,” Breer wrote.
“The Vikings are another potential fit, with Moore’s versatility meshing, at least on paper, with how DC Brian Flores builds his defense. Those teams being in the NFC should also make them likely suitors, assuming Indy would rather not help out a conference rival.”
Last season for the Colts, Moore II posted a 66.7 overall PFF defensive grade, ranking 39th out of 114 qualified cornerbacks. His 62.1 coverage grade placed 58th at the position, while his 84.4 run-defense grade ranked fifth.
He finished the year with one interception and three pass breakups. Opposing quarterbacks had an 89.2 passer rating when targeting him, and he allowed 43 receptions in coverage. Moore II also added 41 solo tackles in run support and in the open field.
Vikings Could Use a Veteran Voice In the Secondary
The Vikings might need another veteran in the secondary, as Harrison Smith has yet to decide whether he’s returning for the 2026 NFL season or retiring. Even with the uncertainty, Alec Lewis, who covers the Vikings for The Athletic, believes Smith will be back, as he included the veteran safety in his projections for the safety position in 2026.
“Smith has not ruled out a return,” Lewis wrote in his article that was published on March 30. “It doesn’t feel like a decision is imminent, either. The Vikings don’t plan to push him for a decision, knowing they need to plan for the future regardless. Smith is 37 years old. If he plays, he’ll want the chance to bring a Super Bowl to the organization he’s given his career to.”
Minnesota Isn’t Pressing Harrison Smith for a Decision
Moreover, Lewis might be right about a decision not coming soon. On March 30, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell spoke with the media and shared the latest regarding where the organization stands on allowing Smith to take the time he needs to decide whether he wants to play in 2026.
“He knows how I feel about him, how we feel about him,” O’Connell said (h/t Kevin Seifert of ESPN). “But we also want to be respectful and give him space to kind of continue to figure out what he wants to do.”
Smith finished the 2025 season with a 68.9 overall PFF grade, placing 31st among 98 qualifying safeties. His coverage work earned a 69.0 grade, good for 29th at the position, while his run-defense grade of 61.7 ranked 78th.
Furthermore, Smith played 793 snaps, notching two interceptions and three pass breakups. The Vikings veteran allowed a passer rating of 81.0 when targeted, opposing quarterbacks completed 21 passes against him, and Smith added 42 solo tackles.
Eduardo Razo Eduardo Razo is a sports writer for Heavy.com, covering the NFL, MLB, and college football. He has previously covered the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB for NBC Sports Washington and NBC Sports Bay Area & California, and has freelanced for PSG Talk, covering Paris Saint-Germain. He also worked as an editor at Athlon Sports, focusing on MLB and the NFL. More about Eduardo Razo
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