The Tennessee Titans entered the offseason needing to revamp the EDGE position. Veteran journeyman Jihad Ward led all Titans outside linebackers in sacks with just five. If it wasn't for Jeffery Simmons and his 11.0 sacks, Tennessee's pass rush would have been totally useless.
New head coach Robert Saleh was allowed to reimagine the defensive line in his vision. The Titans made sweeping changes at EDGE this offseason by acquiring Saleh-approved rushers like Jermaine Johnson II and Jacob Martin, and drafting Keldric Faulk. One of the veterans sacrificed to make room was Arden Key, who was on an expiring contract.
Key had a disappointing four sacks for the Titans in 2025. He signed with the AFC South rival Indianapolis Colts in free agency. After speaking with a Colts analyst, they are already learning difficult lessons about Key the hard way.
Former Titans DE Arden Key already has Colts expert worried about their pass rush
"Arden Key's presence with the Colts is fitting with the current culture of the Chris Ballard regime," Horseshoe Heroes site expert Lee Vowell exclusively told Titan Sized. "The team has learned to give answers to the media that are full of meaningless words, and Ballard has begun doing that with free agent signings, too. Key might be slightly better than mediocre, but was basically a wash of a signing, as the team let Kwity Paye go to the Las Vegas Raiders, and the new player won't greatly improve one of the more glaring issues for the team: Edge rusher. If Key has more than eight sacks, it will be an Indy miracle. Otherwise, 2026 will look like 2025, when the only edge rusher making a real difference was Laiatu Latu."
The Colts registered 39 sacks last season, three fewer than the Titans (42). As Vowell noted, Key is replacing Kwity Paye in Indianapolis. Like Key, Paye recorded four sacks in 2025. Ballard failed to improve a unit that was already struggling.
Key was frustrating throughout his tenure with the Titans. The former LSU standout would occasionally have stretches where his athleticism and energy was difficult for opposing tackles to neutralize. He'd also be invisible for four-games in a row. Key is the Colts' problem now, and they'll learn about his inconsistencies throughout training camp.
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