One of the more intriguing moves the Tennessee Titans have made in free agency this offseason was the signing of former Jacksonville Jaguars edge rusher, Arden Key.
Tennessee had a void at EDGE after releasing outside linebacker Bud Dupree, and Key is a great addition to help fill that.
He’s shown plenty of promise over the past few years in rotational roles with the San Francisco 49ers and Jaguars, and there is potential for him to really take off in Tennessee, where he’ll be surrounded with a lot of talent while having the opportunity to see a bigger role.
Key’s contract is a favorable one. He’s getting a three-year, $21 million deal that includes $13 million guaranteed and a pair of void years to keep his 2023 cap hit at a low $2.88 million.
As we take a look at five things to know, you’ll see why there are reasons to be excited for Tennessee’s newest edge rusher.
Expected role
With Bud Dupree and DeMarcus Walker no longer in Nashville, Key is in line to play significant snaps in 2023 thanks to his ability to play inside or out.
I would pencil him in ahead of Rashad Weaver on the depth chart and for around 40 snaps per game in a key rotational role.
Of course, Harold Landry will be the primary outside linebacker if he’s fully healthy and able to play a full complement of snaps in his first year back from a torn ACL.
As far as Key’s ability to be a full-time starter is concerned, Adam Stites of Jaguars Wire told us he thinks the 26-year-old is better suited in the aforementioned rotational role as opposed to the every-down role we’ve seen Landry play in the past.
AS: Given his skill set, I think Key is best used as a versatile rotational piece, but getting 30-40 snaps out of him a game won’t be difficult.
Efficient and promising production
Key isn’t someone who has seen a ton of snaps in any season of his career, so the Titans are betting on his potential in what figures to be an increased role from the one he saw in his previous stops.
Key has started in just 13 of the 71 games he’s appeared in over the course of his five-year career and has never played in more than 63 percent of the snaps in that span.
In the last two seasons, the LSU product has taken part in 35 and 41 percent of his team’s snaps, which makes his 11 total sacks even more impressive, while also showing he can make a big contribution even if he doesn’t see a majority percentage of snaps.
Key did receive a bump in playing time near the end of last season, with him seeing anywhere from 33 to 41 snaps in each of his last five regular season contests. In the 12 games prior, Key had only seen north of 30 snaps twice.
And, in that five-week span, Key tallied 25 of his 44 pressures, good enough for the second-most in the NFL behind San Francisco 49ers star edge rusher Joey Bosa (26). That’s a shining example of the immense upside Key brings.
Arden Key will look to build off of a strong finish to the 2022 season. Key generated 25 pressures in Weeks 14-18, trailing only Nick Bosa (26) over that time frame.@ArdenKeyEl | @Titans https://t.co/ZnR5h3mcXB
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) March 15, 2023
What makes Key valuable?
In a recent episode of “The Install with Greg Cosell”, the NFL analyst went into detail about what makes Key a “really valuable piece” for a defensive front.
“Really liked Arden Key, going back to when he was with the Niners a few years ago,” Cosell said. “We saw the same thing in Jacksonville this year; he’s multi-positional — you can line him up inside, you can line him up outside — he’s got length, he’s got quickness, he’s a good pass-rusher.
“I think he’s one of those guys that you don’t think about because he’s not going to get 15 or 18 sacks, but he’s a really valuable piece of a defensive front with his position versatility. And I think that length is really important.”
.@gregcosell explains why free agent pass rusher Arden Key makes so much sense for the #Titans defense
🏈: https://t.co/E0e1rWMQNG pic.twitter.com/p63d7ecm0Z— Buck Reising (@BuckReising) March 16, 2023
We know head coach Mike Vrabel loves players he can deploy in different spots, and it appears that’s exactly what he’s getting in Key.
What are Key's strengths?
For Key’s strengths, we once again turn to the Q&A we had with Jaguars Wire editor Adam Stites, who had this to say:
AS: Key is a high-motor, high-energy player in more ways than one. His 4.5 sacks on the year don’t quite show the consistent pressure he brought and there isn’t really a way to quantify the lively personality that he brought the Jaguars’ locker room. Players consistently called him the loudest and biggest personality on the roster.
Per Pro Football Focus, Key had solid marks in both the pass-rush and against the run, grading out with a 73.5 and 74.2, respectively.
What are Key's weaknesses?
Key’s weakness, also courtesy of Stites:
AS: While Key has versatility and can line up just about anywhere in the front seven, he’s a bit of a master of none. That made him a really valuable rotational piece who could give the Jaguars defense a boost on pass-rushing downs and add a big body on short-yardage moments. But it may not serve him well if the Titans hope to give Key a full-time starting role.
Another thing that could keep Key from an every-down role as an outside linebacker is his lack of experience in coverage. He has only been targeted 12 times over five seasons, surrendering completions on eight of those 12 attempts.
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