The Titans are getting help replacing Arden Key from an unexpected place

NASHVILLE - The Tennessee Titans have a new roster need. The team's depth at outside linebacker has become even more depleted with Arden Key receiving a six-game suspension for violating the NFL's policy against performance enhancing drugs.

Rashad Weaver is now projected to start opposite of Harold Landry III as Tennessee's top two outside linebackers, but there is not much depth at the position within the organization.

After Landry and Weaver, the Titans do not have an outside linebacker on the roster that has recorded and NFL sack in the last five years.

Needless to say, the Titans are going to need someone to step up if they have any chance of replacing Key's impact while he's out.

It's definitely not a perfect one-for-one swap, but Tennessee's Shane Ray has been an unexpected breakout player that is looking ready for more opportunity in training camp

The Titans hosted Ray for a tryout during rookie minicamp back in May. He was signed to a contract one day into training camp and has been making the most of his opportunity.

Ray, 31, was a first round pick by the Denver Broncos in the 2015 NFL Draft. He won a Super Bowl as a rookie and recorded his career-high eight sacks in 2016. A torn ligament in his wrist shortened Ray's 2017 season while a series of additional wrist surgeries kept him out for part of 2018.

Denver declined Ray's fifth-year option and the former Missouri Tiger has been trying to make it back on a 53-man roster ever since. Ray has made stops with the Baltimore Ravens (2019), Buffalo Bills (2023), and even the CFL's Toronto Argonauts (2021-2022) in recent years, but has not played in an NFL regular season game since leaving Denver. That could all change soon enough now that he's in Tennessee with a huge opportunity.

"Shane [Ray] has done a nice job coming in and learning our style of play," said outside linebackers coach Ben Bloom earlier this week. "I'm excited to see him keep working. We were fortunate to get him here during rookie minicamp. He got exposed to some of the things, and now obviously the package and what we're doing defensively has grown. He has picked it up real well."

Ray has stood out to me through the first week of Titans training camp. He has made his presence felt with both sacks and tackles for loss during the team period of practices. He has really good speed off the edge.

If the Titans keep four outside linebackers (not including Key) on the initial 53-man roster, I'd think Landry, Weaver, and Jaylen Harrell are all likely to make the cut.

That would leave Ray competing against Caleb Murphy, Thomas Rush, and Khalid Duke for the final spot. I'd give the edge to Ray in that battle as of right now.

Related: Titans offensive line concerns amplify after the first padded practices of training camp