NFL Draft: Kansas City Chiefs select DB L’Jarius Sneed
With the 138th pick in the NFL Draft, the Kansas City Chiefs have selected Louisiana Tech DB L'Jarius Sneed.
Cornerback has been a much-discussed position for the Chiefs all offseason, even after re-signing CB Bashaud Breeland to a one-year deal. Cornerback Rashad Fenton is under contract for 2021, but Charvarious Ward is a restricted free agent after the 2020 season, when Breeland will be a free agent again.
Sneed steps in as a defensive back with incredible speed and a few questions to answer on the NFL level, particularly where he'll fit. Odds are, in Steve Spagnuolo's system, it will be in more than one place, but Sneed says he's more comfortable at cornerback, which is where the Chiefs will need him most.
Jordan Foote of Arrowhead Report breaks down the Chiefs' new defensive back:
L'Jarius Sneed is no Bryce Hall nor Amik Robertson, but he still brings positive traits to the Chiefs as a fourth-round pick. He projects more as a cornerback than a safety at the next level and with a 6'0", 192-pound frame, that makes sense. Sneed's versatility is always a plus in a Steve Spagnuolo system, allowing him to line up in various packages and in different roles. He needs to become more reliable in man coverage, so this seems like a developmental pick by the Chiefs.
Bill Huber of PackersCentral had this to say about the Chiefs' new defensive back:
No. 15: L’Jarius Sneed, Louisiana Tech (6-0 1/2, 192; 4.37 40): Sneed closed his career with back-to-back seasons of three interceptions. As a junior, he added eight breakups for 11 total passes defensed. As a senior, he added six breakups (two of which were dropped interceptions) for nine total passes defensed along with a career-high 73 tackles to earn second-team all-conference. According to Sports Info Solutions, he allowed just a 38 percent completion rate and 26.0 passer rating. He missed 16 tackles (10 percent).
Sneed spent his first three seasons at cornerback before moving to safety. He was apprehensive about the move, considering it was his final year in school, but got some advice from a former Tech star. “I talked to (Green Bay Packers defensive back) Tramon Williams. He gave me knowledge about it, like that's what made me (make) my decision. He was like 'yeah, I think you should,' because the scouts will look at me like he played corner this year, now he's playing safety this year. Like I can play man coverage and I can play in the backfield at safety so I feel like it's a good move.” He split his snaps in 2019 between safety and the slot. With his size and speed, he’s certainly worth a try at cornerback before going back to safety.
He had eight career interceptions, including three returned for touchdowns. The playmaking skill showed in high school, when he scored 19 touchdowns as a senior. A brother, T.Q. Mims, played quarterback at Arkansas Pine-Bluff.
With all of his speed and positional versatility, Sneed may be a year or two away from realistically contributing defensively, he should be an immediate special teamer with a year to develop before likely being forced into action in 2021.
Similarly to the Chiefs' selection of LB Willie Gay Jr., this feels like a pick of the best athlete available, as the Chiefs plan to trust Steve Spagnuolo and his coaching staff to develop these athletes into NFL-caliber starters. The Chiefs continue to shoot for players with the highest ceilings.
