The Indianapolis Colts are hoping to rebuild their defensive front seven to get faster and more athletic. Hopefully, a younger group will help with that, but Indy agreeing to terms with edge rusher Arden Key doesn't move the needle much.
Key has basically had the same kind of production that Kwity Paye and Samson Ebukam have had at times, and those two players could leave the team in free agency. Replacing them with a player of the same ilk isn't a good thing. It's the mere definition of meh.
Key is fine against the run, and he is decent at pressuring passers, but he doesn't offer transformative play. His career-high in sacks is 6.5, which he has done twice, and his career-best in tackles for loss is 11, which is far better than any of his other seasons. Key might be part of a better pass-rush rotation, but by himself, he isn't going to be a huge upgrade.
Indianapolis Colts reportedly agree to terms with edge rusher Arden Key
His pay is about what one would expect for a mediocre player as well. He could get as much as $20 million over two seasons. That's a lot for a regular human being, of course, but for a veteran NFL player, not so much.
One might wonder, though, if Key's signing is more of a sign of things to come. After the team agreed to terms with wide receiver Alec Pierce for nearly $30 million a season, Indy will have to cut costs elsewhere. That could include the defense.
The Indianapolis Colts have already traded linebacker Zaire Franklin (as well as wide receiver Michael Pittman), so some cost-cutting moves have been made. More might need to be done if the team agrees to terms with quarterback Daniel Jones. The team currently has the transition tag applied to him.