The Kansas City Chiefs slapped a franchise tag on cornerback L’Jarius Sneed heading into free agency, and the general expectation is that the Chiefs will trade him.
That will especially be the case if the latest report of Sneed’s contract demands is accurate.
During an interview on 610 Sports Radio in Kansas City, Matt Verderame of Sports Illustrated said that Sneed is asking for $22 million a year because he wants to be the NFL’s highest-paid cornerback.
Verderame then doubled down on X on Wednesday morning, saying that the details were, in fact, “accurate.” In a since-deleted post, Sneed responded by saying, “On my way to work out & the lies I see !” (via Devon Clements of Heavy.com.)
Sneed is coming off of a 2023 campaign in which he played 16 games and registered 78 tackles, a couple of interceptions, 14 passes defended and a fumble recovery.
The 27-year-old, who played his collegiate football at Louisiana Tech, was selected by the Chiefs in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
He appeared in nine contests during his rookie year, logging 41 tackles, a pair of sacks, three interceptions and seven passes defended.
The following season, Sneed became a full-time starter, participating in 15 games and recording 76 tackles, a sack, two interceptions, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and eight passes defended.
Sneed then enjoyed a breakout campaign of sorts in 2022, racking up 108 tackles, 3.5 sacks, three picks, three forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and 11 passes defended.
He has never made a Pro Bowl, but he has established himself as one of the league’s top cornerbacks over the last couple of seasons.
L’Jarius Sneed will most likely be playing elsewhere in 2024, but how much he will get paid over the course of a multi-year deal remains a mystery.
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