Wikipedia

Arden Key

Arden Key Jr. (born May 3, 1996) is an American professional football defensive end for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the LSU Tigers, and was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the third round of the 2018 NFL draft.

Arden Key
Key in 2023
Indianapolis Colts
PositionDefensive end
Roster statusActive
Personal information
Born (1996-05-03) May 3, 1996 (age 30)
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Listed weight240 lb (109 kg)
Career information
High schoolHapeville Charter Career Academy (Union City, Georgia)
CollegeLSU (2015–2017)
NFL draft2018: 3rd round, 87th overall pick
Career history
Awards and highlights
Career NFL statistics as of 2025
Total tackles192
Sacks30.5
Forced fumbles4
Fumble recoveries2
Pass deflections8
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Early life

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Key attended Hapeville Charter Career Academy in Union City, Georgia. He recorded 15.5 sacks as a senior, eight as a junior and 12 as a sophomore. He committed to Louisiana State University (LSU) to play college football.[1][2]

Regarded as a four-star recruit by ESPN, Key was ranked as the No. 6 defensive end prospect in the class of 2015.[3]

College career

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As a true freshman at LSU in 2015, Key played in 12 games and started the final nine. He recorded 41 tackles and five sacks and was named a freshman All-American.[4][5] As a sophomore in 2016, he set a single-season school record by recording 12 sacks.[6] He earned first-team All-Southeastern Conference honors from the Associated Press.[7] As a junior in 2017, Key was limited to 8 games due to injury, but finished with 33 tackles, 4 sacks, and a forced fumble. On January 4, 2018, Key officially announced that he would be entering the 2018 NFL draft.[8]

Professional career

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Pre-draft

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Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand spanWingspan40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jumpWonderlic
6 ft 4+7⁄8 in
(1.95 m)		238 lb
(108 kg)		33+1⁄2 in
(0.85 m)		10 in
(0.25 m)		6 ft 10+1⁄8 in
(2.09 m)		4.88 s1.75 s2.76 s4.25 s7.16 s31 in
(0.79 m)		9 ft 9 in
(2.97 m)		18[9]
All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day[10][11]

Prior to Key's junior season, he was projected as the number one overall prospect for the 2018 NFL Draft by Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports.[12] In January 2018, he was ranked as the number two draft prospect at the outside linebacker position, behind Tremaine Edmunds of Virginia Tech, by Mel Kiper of ESPN.[13] Key was projected to be an early first round selection, but his off-the-field issues caused his draft stock to plummet.

Oakland / Las Vegas Raiders

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Key was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the third round as the 87th pick overall.[14] He played all 16 games during the 2018 season.[15]

Key played seven games in the 2019 season.[16] After having two sacks in his final two games, Key suffered a broken foot and was ruled out the rest of the season. He was placed on injured reserve on November 7, 2019.[17]

Key played 14 games during the 2020 season, missing two games due to illness.[18] He was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the team on November 18, 2020,[19] and activated three days later.[20] On December 26, 2020, in a Week 16 home game against the Miami Dolphins, Key committed a 15-yard personal foul penalty when he grabbed the facemask of Dolphin QB Ryan Fitzpatrick on a play where the Dolphins gained 34 yards; the penalty and catch put Miami in field goal range and Miami hit one from 44 yards to earn a 26-25 win, which eliminated the Raiders from playoff contention.

Key was waived on April 15, 2021.[21]

San Francisco 49ers

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On April 23, 2021, Key signed a one-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers.[22] He played all 17 games of the 2021 season.[23]

Jacksonville Jaguars

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On March 30, 2022, Key signed a one-year contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars.[24] He played in all 17 games with three starts, recording 27 tackles and 4.5 sacks.[25]

Tennessee Titans

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Key playing for the Titans in 2024.

On March 20, 2023, Key signed a three-year, $21 million contract with the Tennessee Titans.[26] He played in 17 games with nine starts during the 2023 season, recording 30 tackles, six sacks, and two forced fumbles.[27]

On July 30, 2024, Key was suspended 6 games for violating the NFL's policy against performance–enhancing drugs.[28] However, Key successfully appealed the ban, and his suspension was overturned on August 17.[29] He played 16 games during the 2024 season, only missing the last game due to injury. He finished with a career high of 42 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 18 pressures, and a pass deflection.[30]

Indianapolis Colts

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On March 12, 2026, Key signed with the Indianapolis Colts on a two-year, $20 million contract with $11 million guaranteed.[31][32]

NFL career statistics

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Legend
Bold Career high

Regular season

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Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GPGSCombSoloAstTFLSckPDIntYdsFFFR
2018OAK 16103021941.000000
2019OAK 7043122.000000
2020LV 1401510520.020000
2021SF 17022111156.510000
2022JAX 17327161154.520001
2023TEN 17930171346.020020
2024TEN 1615422418116.510021
2025TEN 1292291364.000000
Career 11646192111813930.580042

Postseason

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Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GPGSCombSoloAstTFLSckPDIntYdsFFFR
2021SF 3021100.000000
2022JAX 2021100.010000
Career 5042200.010000

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ Dellenger, Ross (April 23, 2016). "Four star Georgia defensive end Arden Key commits to LSU". The Advocate. Archived from the original on April 4, 2018. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
  2. ↑ Kendall, Josh (February 3, 2015). "'A lifetime decision': Arden Key picks LSU over the Gamecocks". Archived from the original on April 3, 2018. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
  3. ↑ "Arden Key Recruiting Profile". ESPN. Archived from the original on November 14, 2016. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Twenty sacks or not, Arden Key will be a weapon for LSU's defense". Archived from the original on October 3, 2016. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
  5. ↑ "LSU OLB Arden Key enjoying new defense". Archived from the original on September 14, 2017. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
  6. ↑ Lopez, Andrew (December 31, 2016). "Arden Key breaks LSU single-season sack record". The Times-Picayune. Archived from the original on September 14, 2017. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
  7. ↑ "It's a Sweep: No 1. Alabama Cleans up on AP All-SEC Team". ABC News. Associated Press. December 8, 2016. Archived from the original on December 9, 2016. Retrieved December 10, 2016.
  8. ↑ "LSU DE Arden Key entering the draft". NFL. January 4, 2018. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Huge List of NFL Wonderlic Scores by Position". March 14, 2020. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
  10. ↑ "Arden Key Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  11. ↑ "2018 NFL Draft Scout Arden Key College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  12. ↑ Trapasso, Chris (June 1, 2017). "An incredibly early look at the top 100 prospects in the 2018 NFL Draft: 1-20". CBS Sports. Archived from the original on September 3, 2017. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
  13. ↑ "Mel Kiper's top 10 prospects at each position for 2018 NFL draft". ABC News. January 10, 2018. Archived from the original on March 15, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2018.
  14. ↑ "Arden Key selected by Oakland Raiders in 2018 Draft". NFL. April 27, 2018. Archived from the original on January 25, 2022. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  15. ↑ "Arden Key 2018 Game Log". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  16. ↑ "Arden Key 2019 Game Log". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  17. ↑ "Raiders promote linebacker Quentin Poling and place defensive end Arden Key on IR". Raiders.com. November 7, 2019. Archived from the original on November 9, 2019. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  18. ↑ "Arden Key 2020 Game Log". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  19. ↑ "Raiders Add 7 Players To COVID-19 List Ahead Of Rematch Vs. Chiefs". CBS News Los Angeles. November 18, 2020. Archived from the original on April 7, 2022. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  20. ↑ Gutierrez, Paul (November 21, 2020). "Las Vegas Raiders activate 7 off reserve/COVID-19 list". ESPN. Archived from the original on January 5, 2021. Retrieved December 25, 2020.
  21. ↑ Alper, Josh (April 15, 2021). "Raiders waive Maurice Hurst and Arden Key; release Kyle Sloter". ProFootballTalk. NBC Sports. Archived from the original on April 15, 2021. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  22. ↑ "49ers Sign Two Defensive Linemen to One-year Deals". San Francisco 49ers. April 23, 2021. Archived from the original on April 23, 2021. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  23. ↑ "Arden Key 2021 Game Log". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  24. ↑ Alper, Josh (March 30, 2022). "Jaguars sign Arden Key". ProFootballTalk. NBC Sports. Archived from the original on March 31, 2022. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  25. ↑ "Arden Key 2022 Game Log". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  26. ↑ Wyatt, Jim (March 20, 2023). "Titans Agree to Terms With Former Jaguars Defensive Lineman Arden Key". TennesseeTitans.com.
  27. ↑ "Arden Key 2023 Game Log". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  28. ↑ Davenport, Turron (July 30, 2024). "Source: Titans LB Key facing 6-game PED ban". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 17, 2025.
  29. ↑ Davenport, Turron (August 17, 2024). "Source: Titans' Key has 6-game ban overturned". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 17, 2025.
  30. ↑ "Arden Key 2024 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 17, 2025.
  31. ↑ Foster, Amanda. "Colts sign free agent DE Arden Key". Colts.com. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
  32. ↑ Alper, Josh (March 9, 2026). "Colts to add Arden Key on two-year deal". NBCSports.com.
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