Chiefs Prepare Franchise Tag For L’Jarius Sneed

Last week, the Kansas City Chiefs informed their number one cornerback L’Jarius Sneed of a franchise tag-like deal and are open to completing a trade if no long-term agreements are made.

The nonexclusive franchise tag that the Chiefs are offering would cost about $19 million for the 2024 season, per reports. It’s a tag that Chiefs general manager Brett Veach had said was either going to be used on Sneed or defensive end Chris Jones if they were unable to re-sign both of them by the start of free agency.

Now it will belong to Sneed.

The scenario is ideal for Sneed, as he will have the chance to talk with other teams while the Chiefs will remain an option during his free agency, although he is expected to stick with the Chiefs and their growing dynasty.

Since joining the Chiefs as a fourth-round draft pick in 2020, Sneed has become an increasingly important defensive player. In his first five seasons in the NFL, Sneed has gone to the Super Bowl four times and won three rings. Experts around the league have recognized his most recent Super Bowl title season as Sneed’s best year yet.

Sneed, 27, didn’t allow a touchdown pass as the nearest player in coverage all season until the Chiefs’ divisional-round playoff win against the Buffalo Bills.

In 2023, he covered the opponent’s top receiver on at least 65% of the snaps seven times during the regular season. Apart from Davante Adams’ five catches for 73 yards on Sneed in a week 12 game, none of those receivers were able to catch more than two passes.

Most recently, Sneed has blown up for his performance in the AFC Championship game against the Baltimore Ravens, where he lined up against Zay Flowers 21 times. He allowed one touchdown catch for 54 yards but also made one of the biggest plays of his career, punching the ball out of Flowers’ hands to force a fumble, which the Chiefs would recover on the one-yard line.

That play took a touchdown away from the Ravens in what became a 17-10 win for the Chiefs and evolved into their fourth Super Bowl appearance in the past five seasons.