The Chicago Bears aren't praying on anyone's downfall (well, except maybe the Green Bay Packers). However, recent intel indicates they could stand to benefit from the Tennessee Titans' ongoing organizational turmoil.
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler appeared on 104-5 The Zone, the Titans' flagship radio station, on the heels of the team firing head coach Brian Callahan. The senior NFL reporter indicated this decision could foreshadow an "active" Tennessee front office at the 2025 trade deadline, which is music to Chicago's ears.
Fowler named three players the Titans might look to move ahead of the Nov. 4 cutoff point, one of which should interest Chicago: Arden Key.
Bears should consider acquiring Titans' Arden Key if Tennessee trade rumors are true
Key, 29, is in the third and final season of the three-year, $21 million contract he signed with the Titans in March 2023. The veteran edge defender has remained productive for a rebuilding club that's going nowhere fast. If Tennessee is willingly shopping him, the Bears make for an ideal landing spot.
Chicago ranks 30th in the league in pass rush win rate and isPro Football Focus' No. 28-ranked defense in those situations ($) through six weeks. They're tied for the third- and fourth-fewest sacks (eight) and pressures (28), respectively. To say the Bears can gain from Key's services would quite an understatement.
While Key is primarily a depth piece for a contender, he's capable of getting to the passer, a department the Bears are sorely lacking in. He's tallied at least 4.5 sacks and double-digit quarterback hits in each of the previous four campaigns.
Nevertheless, Key isn't just a one-trick pony. The 2018 third-round pick is equally impactful as a run-stopper, recording one stop in three of the five games he's appeared in this year. His versatility is a valuable asset that Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen can surely maximize if given the chance.
Winners of three straight contests, the Bears are within striking distance of reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2020. Yet, in a competitive NFC, adding talent doesn't hurt, especially when given an opportunity to address an area of weakness. Key makes for an intriguing low-risk, medium-reward flier.
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It's worth noting that Key missed the Titans' Week 6 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders due to a quad injury. His health (or lack thereof) bears watching; acquiring the eighth-year pro on an expiring pact does nothing if he's hurt. Chicago and any potential suitors will be monitoring him closely.