L’Jarius Sneed on KC Chiefs Future Amid Trade Rumors: ‘Hopefully I’m Still Here'
With the 2024 NFL offseason rolling, a major element that helps make up what the Kansas City Chiefs can do revolves around cornerback L'Jarius Sneed. That's been the case ever since the final pass of Super Bowl LVIII was completed.
Sneed, coming off the best season of his career, is currently franchised tagged by Kansas City. Counting for $19.8 million against the salary cap, the Chiefs were flirting with cap compliance depending on which site's estimate is followed. By the start of the new league year and free agency on Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. ET, all 32 teams must be under the cap. Trading Sneed, a very possible development, would have saved more than enough to make it through and have funds to spare. Luckily, Patrick Mahomes's contract restructure got the Chiefs there anyway.
The only issue is that a trade hasn't manifested. Despite a handful of clubs being interested in acquiring Sneed's services, the Chiefs haven't pulled the trigger on a deal. With All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones locked up on a multiyear contract, the franchise's focus is now on figuring out what to do with Sneed. A new contract isn't out of the realm of possibility, although most signs have pointed to a trade for weeks.
Speaking at a partnership event with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Kansas City on Tuesday, Sneed gave an update on what life has been like for him lately. Local news station KSHB 41 captured his brief availability.
"My life is fun, but it's very stressful right now, too," Sneed said. "I don't get sleep at night. I have a kid, a newborn, I don't get sleep. I've got the free agency, you know? It's a lot going on, but I'm taking it all in at one time."
He also chimed in on the significance of being a two-time champion and what a three-peat could bring.
"It's legendary," Sneed said. "Two is legendary, but three? You never get tired of getting rings. I pray I'm here to do a three-peat."
For Sneed, Kansas City is all he's known as a professional. Selected in the fourth round of the NFL Draft back in 2020, the team essentially converted him from safety and turned him into one of the game's best nickel cornerbacks. From there, Sneed earned more and more trust from defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and defensive backs coach Dave Merritt. Once Trent McDuffie joined the team and got acclimated, the final evolution of Sneed took place.
In 2023-24, Sneed played on the boundary and put up the most impressive stretch of perhaps any cornerback in the league. Somehow, he didn't bring home a Pro Bowl or All-Pro nod for it. In 16 regular-season games, the former Louisiana Tech standout didn't surrender a single touchdown in coverage and allowed just 4.8 yards per target. Opposing quarterbacks posted a measly 56.2 passer rating against him and completed only 51% of passes thrown his way. Sneed also slowed down some of the NFL's best receivers, including Tyreek Hill, Justin Jefferson, Stefon Diggs, Ja'Marr Chase and more.
Unfortunately for Sneed, however, it's difficult to keep the entire band together. While great, he isn't quite on the same tier as someone like Jones, Travis Kelce or Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs would love to retain him, but playing him on the tag is expensive and there's already an impressive stable of cornerbacks in the fold. That, combined with elite coaching on defense, would make it easy to flip Sneed for draft capital.
Don't let Sneed hear that, though, even with the football world making use of each day to discuss where he's headed next. According to him, he hopes the end destination is back to Kansas City for another season.
"Hopefully I'm with the Chiefs," Sneed said. "Hopefully I'm still here. Hopefully we go back and repeat."
