2024-02-28 22:26:33
Few decisions in the NFL are “easy,” especially when a team has as much success as the Kansas City Chiefs have had in recent seasons. The two-time defending Super Bowl champions have salary cap constraints and will not be bringing back the exact same team in 2024. The franchise on Wednesday acknowledged this by granting one of its defensive stars the opportunity to seek a trade.
L’Jarius Sneedthe Chiefs‘ standout cornerback, could be changing teams this offseason after Kansas City allowed him to look for a new team Wednesday — just hours after reports emerged that the organization had used its franchise tag on the former fourth-round pick. It’s a scenario that few around the Chiefs wanted to see — but it could mean an extension is coming for another of the team’s defensive anchors.
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Chiefs make their choice
NFL insider Ian Rapoport said Wednesday that the Chiefs had not yet officially applied their franchise tag on Sneedwho has spent all four of his pro seasons with Kansas City and has helped it win two Super Bowls. The Chiefs have until next Tuesday, March 5, to use the franchise tag on Sneed — which amounts to a one-year, $19.8 million deal for 2024. That would give Kansas City until July to either work out an extension with Sneed or, in the worst case, finalize a trade for him.
It has been less than two weeks since Sneed issued a public request for Chiefs general manager Brett Veach to pay him, but it does not sound like early negotiations have gotten very far. Sneed is expecting a long-term contract that will make him among the best-paid cornerbacks in the NFLbut defensive tackle Chris Jones is expecting his own lucrative contract — and seeing as Jones has publicly expressed his desire to stay in Kansas City, it would make sense for the franchise to pursue a deal with the two-time All-Pro lineman instead if Sneed’s demands are too high.
Where will Sneed go?
Rumors have linked Sneed with the Philadelphia Eaglesthe team that Sneed helped the Chiefs defeat in Super Bowl LVII following the 2022 season. The Eagles were one of the worst defenses in the NFL last season, especially against the pass, although Philadelphia would have to create a bit more cap room to fit in his desired salary.
The Detroit Lionsfresh off an appearance in the NFC Championship Gamecould also be interested in acquiring Sneed. The Lions have the cap space and the assets necessary — as well as the championship aspirations — to entice Sneed, who would bolster their pass defense, which ranked 27th in yards allowed in 2023.
If it is really just about the money for Sneed, then the Arizona Cardinals make sense as a potential fit for the 27-year-old. The Cardinals need a #1 cornerback and are expected to aggressively pursue help at that position — and Arizona has copious cap space within which it should be able to meet Sneed’s salary demands.
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