L’Jarius Sneed Addresses Possible Exit From Chiefs After This Season

The Kansas City Chiefs may thank their defense for their 7-2 record entering the bye week. According to the Associated Press, the Chiefs’ defense is second in the league in scoring defense and fourth in overall defense, helping catapult Kansas City to another Super Bowl appearance.

While general manaer Brett Veach would want to keep all of his important defensive players, Bleacher Report’s David Kenyon believes the team’s backup cornerback L’Jarius Sneed will be forced to “switch teams” after this season. The Louisiana Tech graduate is in the final year of his $3.9 million rookie deal.

Spotrac.com initiatives Sneed’s market worth will win him a four-year, $29.6 million contract, resulting in a “complicated offseason,” according to Kenyon

“All-Pro pass-rusher lineman Chris Jones is headed for free agency, and he’ll be incredibly expensive. Kansas City has seen its defense without Jones, though, and it’s not great. Letting him walk could be devastating.”

In 2024, the Chiefs are expected to have $51.6 million in cap space. Kenyon feels the Chiefs would prioritize compensating All-Pro pass rusher Chris Jones, who is set to make $32 million next season.

Sneed has 38 total tackles, 10 stops, and one interception in nine games this season, earning an overall 77.0 grade from Pro Football Focus.

A player’s mind might be weighed down by an unknown future, but Sneed is keeping his head down and focused on the game. “I don’t think about that,” Sneed told Forbes of getting an extension in Kansas City. “I’m just playing ball right now. That will take care of itself when the time comes.”

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid believes the good far outweighs the bad with Sneed. “Some of those penalties were ticky-tacky, and that’s going to happen whenever you’re a physical corner,” Reid told reporters of Sneed’s performance in Minnesota. “I’ll take that every day with the type of player he is, the type of plays that he makes, and what he does for us on the defense.”

Last season, Sneed recorded a career-high 11 passes defensed, 108 tackles, and three interceptions en route to the Chief’s Super Bowl victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.