Oakland Raiders Minicamp: Arden Key up to 260 pounds
After a rookie year of adversity for Arden Key, he’s turned the page for a stronger and healthier 2019 season for the Oakland Raiders.
Arden Key was brought in-house by the Raiders when they selected him in the third round of the 2018 draft. Initially he was going to be used as a situational pass rusher, with the majority of his reps being played on third down.
Things changed quickly for the Raiders last season, as they were in need of edge rushers after trading Khalil Mack and cutting Bruce Irvin. Key was placed in their footsteps as an every down rusher.
His development didn’t move as quickly as most wanted, with only totaling 1 sack in his rookie campaign. Key generated frequent pressure on the quarterback but really lacked bringing him down to the ground. His smaller frame coming off the edge may have been a big factor in the lack of sacking the quarterback.
Jon Gruden and the Raiders coaching staff requested that Key were to bulk up and get stronger in order to generate more sacks. Key stepped to the podium on Wednesday during minicamp practice and spoke about his offseason regimen in order to gain weight.
"“I got bigger,” said Key. “When I reported for OTA’s I was 245, but the coaches expect me to be heavier. Now I’m at 260. We going to get em’ down this year.”"
Key acknowledged the fact that his rookie season could have been better had he of taken down the quarterback the first time he got his hands on them.
Key also reported that he underwent shoulder surgery this offseason in January after playing through it all of last season. “All they did was a clean out, nothing to serious,” Key stated. This was the first of hearing that from himself or any of the Raiders coaches.
After getting back to full health entering this season, as well as gaining additional muscle, the Raiders will look for huge strides in year two from Key. Since arriving for OTA’s the staff has put him on a strict meal plan that contains salmon, chicken, steak, broccoli, asparagus, and rice.
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His current meal plan appears to have been working so far, since he’s added 15 pounds in just a month. Key’s done well adding weight, but now his focus must be to make sure it’s good weight and not going to slow him down once he hits the field for live action.