March 10, 2026, 5:26 p.m. ET
The Indianapolis Colts one outside signing up to this point in free agency is the addition of defensive end Arden Key.
Let’s check in on what grade this move received.
Arden signed a two-year, $20 million deal to join the Colts after spending three seasons with Tennessee.
During the most recent season, Key logged 33 pressures and ranked 77th in PFF’s pass rush win rate metric and, for what it’s worth, graded out well in run defense grade.
Key’s production has been steady, with him recording between 33 and 40 pressures in each of the last three seasons. His most productive season came in 2022, when Key tallied 51 pressures.
Expert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.NFL expert grades Colts’ signing of Arden Key
ESPN’s Seth Walder is going through and grading each free agent move made. When it came to the Colts signing Arden, Walder gave Indianapolis a solid B+.
“Key, who spent the last three seasons in Tennessee, has long been underrated,” Walder wrote. “Though he had only four sacks in 12 games last season, Key recorded an 85th percentile pass rush win rate at edge.”
Walder added, “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.”
The Colts are undergoing their fair share of turnover at defensive end. Kwity Paye has signed with the Raiders, while Tyquan Lewis and Samson Ebukam are both free agents. The Colts also need more production from those not named Laiatu Latu. As a unit in 2025, the Colts ranked 30th in ESPN’s pass rush win rate metric.
Arden will become an immediate member of the Colts’ defensive end rotation. His get-off at the snap should add a new element to the defensive front as well. This addition, however, should not stop Chris Ballard from continuing to add to this position.