ESPN’s Bill Barnwell names Colts ‘best move’ of 2026 offseason
The Colts may have done well to snag the solid veteran edge during the early waves of free agency.
NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 21: Tennessee Titans linebacker Arden Key (49) runs onto the field during player introductions prior to a game between the Tennessee Titans and Kansas City Chiefs, December 21, 2025, at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Matthew Maxey/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images According to ESPN’s Bill Barnwell, the Indianapolis Colts’ best move of the 2026 NFL offseason was signing former Tennessee Titans veteran free agent edge Arden Key to a 2-year, $16 million contract : Best: Signing Arden Key to a two-year, $16 million contract . General manager Chris Ballard has tried to draft and develop edge rushers with limited success, and the Colts moved on from the likes of Kwity Paye and Tyquan Lewis this offseason.
Laiatu Latu took a big step forward as a pass rusher last year, and the Colts will hope for a breakthrough season from 2025 second-rounder JT Tuimoloau, but Indianapolis needed another edge rusher in its rotation and didn’t have a first-round pick to go after one. Landing on Key was a solid move at the right cost. The 30-year-old journeyman has been a consistently solid rotational player on the edge.
He has managed double-digit quarterback knockdowns in each of the past six seasons while playing for four different teams. In his one year as a full-time starter in 2024, Key racked up 6. 5 sacks, 15 knockdowns and 11 tackles for loss.
He can be a bit of a freelancer at times as a run defender, which might make him a liability at times on early downs, but Key has able to win one-on-one against tackles and create splash plays. He should be a useful player for 400 snaps in 2026. Originally a 2018 3rd round pick of the Raiders organization, the 30-year-old Key has been well traveled in his playing career, having later stops with the San Francisco 49ers and Jacksonville Jaguars before most recently, joining the Titans over the last three seasons.