Arden Key is a Colt

[Puck]

JosinaAnderson
@JosinaAnderson
Breaking: I'm told LB Arden Key has agreed to go to the #Colts.

[Puck]

Noah Compton
@nerlens_
·
4m
New #Colts DE Arden Key in 3 seasons with the Titans:

16.5 sacks, 21 tackles for loss, 38 QB Hits, and 4 forced fumbles in 33 starts.

The 29-year-old graded 70th out of 115 defensive ends in 2025 via PFF, fwiw.

[Puck]

The Blue Stable
@TheBlue_Stable
·
8m
BREAKING:

The #Colts are signing Arden Key to a 2 year deal worth up to $20M with $11M guaranteed, per
@RapSheet
. #ForTheShoe

[Puck]

Kevin Bowen
@KBowen1070
·
21m
Key, 29, has hovered between 4.0 – 6.5 sacks in each of the last 5 years.

The #Colts need at DE by no means stops at Key.

Colts have 3 of their top 4 DEs from last year hitting free agency (Paye, Ebukam, Lewis).

[Hoopsdoc]

I wonder if this means they’re out on Hendrickson? My guess is yes.

[Hoopsdoc]

Also, Key is Kwity Paye 2.0. Athletically gifted but not good at football.

[Puck]

I wonder if this means they’re out on Hendrickson? My guess is yes.

I am guessing he is the Paye replacement.

Kevin Bowen posted it wont stop with Key. I hope not. But I think they need to get some others restructured before Wednesday. Once that happens we might see a big signing like Trey

[Kray007]

I am guessing he is the Paye replacement.

Kevin Bowen posted it wont stop with Key. I hope not. But I think they need to get some others restructured before Wednesday. Once that happens we might see a big signing like Trey

My understanding is that nfl contracts include a clause that allows teams to restructure contracts at will. There’s no longer any need to get players to sign on to the deal.

[Hoopsdoc]

Key is actually significantly worse than Paye statistically.

Key has 30.5 sacks in 115 games.

Paye has 30.5 sacks 75 games and is a good run defender.

[apballin]

Key is actually significantly worse than Paye statistically.

Key has 30.5 sacks in 115 games.

Paye has 30.5 sacks 75 games and is a good run defender.

Lou likes longer lengthy guys with burst on the edge

Paye is shorter with short arms and fundamentally sound but nothing explosive about him

[Colts And Orioles]

o


2026 NFL Free Agency Grades: Dexter Lawrence II, Kirk Cousins

(By Seth Walder and Ben Solak)

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/47911726/2026-nfl-free-agency-grades-signings-trades-latest-best-worst-deals-draft-outlook




The Colts Sign Edge Arden Key


Terms: ) 2 Years / $20 Million


Grade: ) B +



With Kwity Paye out the door in free agency, the Colts needed another edge rusher to play opposite Laiatu Latu. ...... they got an upgrade at a lower cost.

Key, who spent the last 3 seasons in Tennessee, has long been underrated. Though he had only four sacks in 12 games last season, Key recorded an 85th percentile pass rush win rate at edge. It wasn't a unique performance ...... he was in the 64th percentile in 2024 and 76th percentile the year prior.

Now, I think that Key often utilizes the type of high and outside pass rush that can sometimes earn pass-rush wins even when tackle has the situation under control, which is part of the reason why his pressure rates have been much lower relative to his win rates in Tennessee. (The other is that losing teams force opponents into desperate passing situations far less often, which shouldn't be held against him.) But at this salary, I think Key is well worth bringing in and should be more disruptive than Paye, who ranked last in pass rush win rate last season. ) (Seth Walder)

o