After placing the franchise tag on star cornerback L’Jarius Sneed earlier this month, the Kansas City Chiefs reportedly made the 27-year-old available in trade discussions.
Now the Chiefs have found Sneed’s new home, as they have reportedly agreed to a deal to trade him to the Tennessee Titans.
L’Jarius Sneed Trade Details
Titans Receive:
- CB L’Jarius Sneed
Chiefs Receive:
- 2025 third-round pick
- 2024 seventh-round pick swap
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Kansas City is sending Sneed to Tennessee in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Both teams are also swapping seventh-round picks in the 2024 NFL Draft.
While the Chiefs have focused on re-signing their own starters this offseason, that clearly won’t be the case with Sneed. Since placing the franchise tag on him earlier this month, Kansas City has been openly shopping Sneed, according to multiple reports.
Kansas City just traded standout CB L'Jarius Snead to Tennessee 👀 pic.twitter.com/8j5o0aW3ib
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) March 23, 2024
Sneed was a key player for Kansas City’s defense last season, as his physicality and ability to lockdown his matchup were pivotal in the team’s success. According to Pro Football Focus, Sneed allowed a completion percentage of just 52% when targeted last season.
Kansas City will now be forced to make a run at their third consecutive Super Bowl victory without their top cornerback. Chiefs cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson will surely take on bigger roles in Kansas City next season.
Titans Land Star CB To Combat AFC South Quarterbacks
Following the 2023 NFL Draft, the AFC South is suddenly loaded with young, talented quarterbacks. Tennessee is now tasked with playing against C.J. Stroud, Anthony Richardson, and Trevor Lawrence in six games per season.
Although Tennessee signed cornerback Chidobe Awuzie in free agency, they clearly weren’t content with just one notable addition to their secondary. Sneed will now join Awuzie to potentially form one of the top cornerback duos in the NFL.
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As the Titans transition to a new coaching staff, defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson is likely ecstatic about Sneed’s addition. Wilson has an extensive history as a defensive backs coach in the NFL. Landing Sneed will be a huge boost for Tennessee’s secondary, in what will be Wilson’s first opportunity as an NFL defensive coordinator.
Sneed’s Contract Details for 2024
It was clear that Sneed was never going to play on the franchise tag in 2024. He was frustrated about the lack of a long-term commitment from the Chiefs, but now he’s landed exactly that from the Titans.
According to Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report, Tennessee is signing Sneed to a massive extension with an average salary of $19 million per year and a whopping $55 million guaranteed.
According to Spotrac, that contract would place Sneed third among all cornerbacks in the NFL in average per year. Sneed is only behind Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander and Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey in that category.
Sneed’s Career Stats
Despite his dominant performance in 2023, Sneed has actually struggled at times in the NFL. Yet, it’s hard to overlook just how dominant he was in Kansas City last season. Sneed was an absolute shutdown corner for the Chiefs in 2023, holding opposing quarterbacks to a passer rating of just 66.0 when targeted.
But while his performance last season was dominant, Sneed’s play was inconsistent during his first three years in Kansas City. Before allowing just two touchdowns last season, he allowed 12 through his first three years in the NFL. He was also called for a league-leading 18 penalties last season.
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Nevertheless, considering the massive contract extension that Tennessee has handed him, it’s clear that the Titans are banking on Sneed continuing to play like he did in 2023.