Arden Key was a significant player for the Titans, serving as their third-most utilized edge defender last season, logging 728 plays according to Pro Football Reference. The LSU alum ranked third in sacks on the team with six, following Denico Autry (11.5) and Harold Landry III (10.5).
Autry’s departure to the Houston Texans in free agency, following his own suspension for a drug-enhancing violation, was expected to elevate Key to a starting role alongside Landry in Dennard Wilson’s revamped defense. However, the Titans now face the challenge of playing their first six games of the 2024 season without Key due to his six-game suspension.
Should the suspension remain unchanged, Key will return for the Week 8 game against the Detroit Lions, after the Titans’ Week 5 bye. He will miss matchups against the Chicago Bears, New York Jets, Green Bay Packers, Miami Dolphins, Indianapolis Colts, and Buffalo Bills. Fortunately, only one of these games is against an AFC South rival.
The Titans’ roster lacks sufficient depth at the EDGE position to easily cope with Key’s absence. Rashad Weaver is expected to take over Key’s responsibilities, while rookie Jaylen Harrell, a seventh-round pick, could also see increased playing time. Undrafted free agents from last year, Thomas Rush and Caleb Murphy, might have enhanced opportunities to make the initial 53-man roster as rotational pass rushers. Additionally, the Titans recently signed veteran Shane Ray, who has made notable plays in training camp.
Key joined the Titans on a three-year, $21 million contract last offseason, largely due to his connection with general manager Ran Carthon from their time together with the San Francisco 49ers in 2021. Pro Football Focus awarded Key a pass-rushing grade of 73.0 last season, during which he recorded 40 quarterback pressures and 29 hurries. His absence will put more pressure on interior defenders like Jeffery Simmons and T’Vondre Sweat to step up.
General manager Carthon and head coach Brian Callahan might need to explore free agency for a veteran pass rusher to fill the gap left by Key. While options are becoming scarce, one potential candidate is Carl Lawson, who played under Callahan with the Cincinnati Bengals from 2017 to 2020.
In conclusion, Arden Key’s suspension poses a significant challenge for the Titans, impacting their defensive depth and strategy. The team will need to rely on other players stepping up and potentially look to free agency to mitigate the loss. The success of their season’s early games will hinge on how well they can adapt to this setback.
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