The Tennessee Titans made one of their biggest splashes of free agency thus far when they agreed to terms on a contract with former Jacksonville Jaguars edge rusher, Arden Key.
Key’s deal will pay him up to $24 million over three years, with $13 million of that fully guaranteed.
The expectation is that Key, who is coming off a pair of standout seasons, one with the San Francisco 49ers and one with the Jaguars, will have a significant role in Tennessee.
After news broke of the signing, our Shaun Calderon loved it, giving the signing an “A+”. But did analysts from other outlets see it the same way? Let’s find out now in our round-up of grades for the Key signing.
Mike Jones, The Athletic: B
Key secures a three-year deal that reportedly features $13 million in guarantees, but potentially could pay him up to $24 million.
Key has carved out a role as a valuable rotational player, with three starts last season but none in the three prior. He recorded 4 1/2 sacks last season for Jacksonville. Yet, he receives a nice payday from Tennessee. The Titans have devoted resources to upgrading a defense that underperformed last season and will be counted on to ease pressure on an offense that could experience a good deal of change as the offseason progresses.
Seth Walder, ESPN: A-
The Titans just landed some serious pass rushing upside. Key didn’t play enough with the Jaguars last season to qualify for our pass rush win rate leaderboard, but if he had, he would have ranked sixth at edge rusher. His 24% pass rush win rate at edge was a tenth of a percentage point ahead of Von Miller. Plus, he had 4.5 sacks.
Now, it’s not a huge sample, and his 2022 win rate was definitely the best of his career, but those are solid numbers. It could be a sign of great things to come. Even though the Titans are seemingly in a rebuild, this is still exactly the kind of bet I’d want to make in free agency.
Walter Cherepinsky, Walter Football: B-
I’m a bit surprised that Arden Key received a $24 million contract. Just a bit, though. Key has been a situational pass rusher in recent years, but he has 11 combined sacks in the past two seasons. He’s also just 26, so he still has potential to improve.
I think the Titans are overpaying a bit, but I don’t hate this signing. Tennessee had to bolster its pass rush, and it’s doing so by stealing a component of their biggest rival at the moment.
Tyler Sullivan, CBS Sports: B
The Titans were able to keep Key in the AFC South, as he agreed to terms on a three-year, $21 million deal with Tennessee. A career-high 44 pressures and 28 hurries add to Key’s value, as he’s just 26 years old.
Key paired with Jeffery Simmons could keep the Titans as a threat in the AFC South, but Tennessee still has some work to do on that side of the ball.
