Grading the signing: Colts steal edge rusher Arden Key away from AFC South rivals, the Titans
Details on how the Colts’ signing of pass rusher Arden Key grades out.
The Indianapolis Colts made headlines early in free agency by extending wide receiver Alec Pierce and trading away Michael Pittman Jr. Now, they are finally on the board with their own free agency signing as well.
The Colts are addressing their very thin edge rush room by signing a player they’ve come to know pretty well over the years due to his familiarity with the AFC South. Reports say the Colts plan to sign former Tennessee Titans pass rusher Arden Key when the NFL’s new league year begins on March 11.
Edge rusher Arden Key’s NFL career stats
- 2018 Raiders: 16 games, 1 sack, 30 total tackles, 4 tackles for loss
- 2019 Raiders: 7 games, 2 sacks, 4 total tackles, 2 tackles for loss
- 2020 Raiders: 14 games, 15 total tackles, 2 tackles for loss
- 2021 49ers: 17 games, 6.5 sacks, 22 total tackles, 5 tackles for loss
- 2022 Jaguars: 17 games, 4.5 sacks, 27 total tackles, 5 tackles for loss
- 2023 Titans: 17 games, 6 sacks, 30 total tackles, 4 tackles for loss
- 2024 Titans: 16 games, 6.5 sacks, 42 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss
- 2025 Titans: 12 games, 4 sacks, 22 total tackles, 6 tackles fo loss
Colts add needed depth to their pass rush with Arden Key
Grade: C+
The Colts and Key are in agreement for the former Titan to sign a two-year contract worth up to $20 million. The two words there that are very important to note are “up to.” The deal reportedly has $11 million guaranteed, meaning $9 million of the deal would have to be earned through Key’s incentives.
That makes this deal essentially a two-year, for $11 million contract, which would be $5.5 million a year. This is by no means a signing by the Colts to find a potential starter in 2026, but rather a move to replace Kwity Paye, who signed with the Las Vegas Raiders, and Samson Ebukam, who is also expected to sign elsewhere this offseason.
I would expect the Colts to still invest resources, whether that be in free agency, the draft, or both. Key will be expected to be a key rotational player for Indy (pun intended). This will be Key’s third stop in the AFC South. He spent the 2022 season with the Jacksonville Jaguars before joining the Titans from 2023 to 2025. Now, for a fifth straight year, he will compete in the AFC South and is now just one more stop away from finalizing his AFC South punch card.
To learn more about the newest Colt, I reached out to A to Z Sports’ Titans beat writer Easton Freeze, and here is what he had to say about the former Titans.
Titans beat writer shares thoughts on the type of player the Colts are getting with Key
“Key had a lackluster 2025 showing. He played in just 12 games thanks to some injury issues. That led to his fewest sacks, tackles, and QB hits in five years. Entering his year 30 season, his role as a designated pass rusher feels like it’s shrinking. But he can still play in a rotation as long as you aren’t relying on him as an impact player.” – Easton Freeze, A to Z Sports Nashville
A to Z Sports’ top 100 free agency ranking for Key
Final rank: 99
The skinny: Key has flashed the ability to be a game wrecker as a pass rusher, but he just hasn’t been consistent enough to turn it into a season with more than 6.5 sacks. His best role would be as a rotational edge rusher, where he would play fewer snaps than his typical gameday with the Titans and be able to provide a real spark off the bench
Indianapolis Colts News
Colts 2026 NFL Free Agency Predictions: The fate of Daniel Jones and Alec Pierce, and a needed makeover for the defense
Predicting what moves the Colts will pull off during the NFL’s legal tampering and free agency ahead of the NFL Draft and a playoff or bust 2026 season.
