Are the Kansas City Chiefs willing to place the franchise tag on L’Jarius Sneed?

The Kansas City Chiefs are facing some tough decisions regarding retaining their free agents for the upcoming NFL season. With three championships under their belt, they must carefully consider who they keep on their team. Two of their most notable free agents are defensive tackle Chris Jones and cornerback L’Jarius Sneed.

Nonetheless, there’s a chance that Sneed may not remain with the team for the next season. According to reports from ESPN and NFL Network, the Chiefs may use the franchise tag on Sneed, but if a multi-year agreement is not reached, they will consider trading him.

The Louisiana Tech graduate is set to complete his rookie contract, having been signed as a fourth-round pick in the 2020 Draft. He has since won two Super Bowls and has undoubtedly grown into one of the best defensive backs in the league.

According to reports, if Sneed signs with the Chiefs under a non-exclusive tag, he would earn $19.8 million in 2024. This would make him the cornerback with the highest base salary in the league. For comparison, Denzel Ward of the Cleveland Browns will receive $15.3 million, while Jalen Ramsey of the Miami Dolphins will receive $14.5 million.

The evolution of L’Jarius Sneed into a top-level cornerback

Upon arriving in Kansas City, Sneed aimed to learn from Charvarius Ward and Bashaud Breeland. As a result, he only participated in nine regular-season games. When Ward left for San Francisco, Sneed, a Louisiana Tech graduate, stepped up and secured the starting job.

Opponents completed 67.4% of passes thrown toward the cornerback, resulting in five touchdowns and 1,234 yards gained between 2021 and 2022.

Yet, everything changed for the 2023 season. Such was Sneed’s growth that throughout the regular season, he did not allow a single touchdown as the closest defender. Quarterbacks threw in his direction 100 times, and the cornerback only allowed 51 receptions for 478 yards and intercepted two of those throws.