The Kansas City Chiefs are trying to become the best version of themselves, and on Monday afternoon, they brought back one of the star performers with Super Bowl experience. L’Jarius Sneed was part of the defensive makeover that helped the Chiefs revive their franchise. Now he’s coming back on a one-year deal.
L’Jarius Sneed had a brilliant career in Kansas City. However, when it came time to pay him elite dollars after the 2023 NFL season, he was traded to the Tennessee Titans for a future third-round pick. After two unsuccessful seasons in Nashville, the Titans cut him in the spring to save cap space.
Since then, Chiefs Blitz has learned that he and the Chiefs share an interest in returning to the team that drafted him. The reunion looks like a perfect fit for Kansas City. Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo used Sneed in a variety of defensive positions.
He eventually found himself, at times, becoming one of the most opportunistic blitzers for the Chiefs’ defense. Yet, he earned his coin, becoming one of the best shutdown corners in the NFL. Now injuries marred his success in Tennessee, but he did come to Kansas City last week for a physical, and it appears there was an extensive review of his health.
As reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the deal is for one season and could pay up to $5M this year. That’s a fair price considering he’s still getting money from the Titans.
The bigger question is how he’ll fit into what has become a young, talented group. With the departures of Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson to the Los Angeles Rams, Sneed will join veterans Kader Kohou, Kristian Fulton and Kaiir Elam on the roster. However, they’ll have a trio of young corners led by last year’s standout, Nohl Williams, and recent draft picks, Mansoor Delane and Jadon Canaday.
Suddenly, what was a weakness at the start of free agency has turned into one of the better secondaries in the NFL. In fact, Sneed’s insertion into the roster was the precise veteran move the room needed to bring the present and the future of the cornerback room.
In other Chiefs news, the team signed both of their first-round picks Monday: Peter Woods and the aforementioned Delane, as they head into Tuesday’s Mini Camp with all their draft picks signed.
