NFL Rumors: Chiefs ‘Trending Toward’ Giving L’Jarius Sneed Franchise Tag Ahead of FA

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The Kansas City Chiefs are reportedly “trending toward” the decision to place the franchise tag on cornerback L’Jarius Sneed this offseason, per Matt Verderame of Sports Illustrated.

“I’m told while nothing is 100 percent at this stage, the likelihood of Sneed being tagged is ’75-80 percent,'” Verderame wrote.

Such a decision would be notable on multiple fronts, as it could keep the star cornerback in Kansas City for at least another year and also remove the possibility of the front office using the franchise tag on defensive tackle Chris Jones.

That could mean the team expects a long-term deal to happen with Jones, especially after he yelled to the crowd at the Super Bowl celebration that he isn’t going anywhere.

However, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler pointed out a franchise tag for Sneed could eventually lead to a trade:

“Certainly we want to do what we can to try to keep both those players and that’s going to be our goal and intent,” general manager Brett Veach said, per Adam Teicher of ESPN. “Hopefully we’re able to figure something out. But every free agency is different, unique and crazy. We do have one tag, and I anticipate probably using it to help us. But I think our goal is to try to get both those players done and then work down the rest of our roster.”

Teicher noted a tag for Jones would cost Kansas City more than $32 million against the salary cap, which is significantly more than the approximately $19 million it would cost to place the tag on Sneed.

The presence of both Jones and Sneed is a major reason the Chiefs won back-to-back Super Bowls.

Sneed finished the 2022 season with 108 tackles, 11 passes defended, 3.5 sacks, three interceptions, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery and then followed with 78 tackles, 14 passes defended, two interceptions and one fumble recovery in 2023.

Brad Spielberger of Pro Football Focus ranked him as the second-best cornerback scheduled for free agency this offseason behind Jaylon Johnson of the Chicago Bears.

The Chiefs are a much better defensive team when he is in the secondary, and they may use the franchise tag to make sure he is in 2024.