Kansas City Chiefs cornerback L’Jarius Sneed is set to be a free agent this offseason, and defensive lineman Chris Jones is facing the same fate.

The Chiefs would obviously love to retain both star defenders, but financial constraints may make it difficult for them to do so.

Sneed seems to understand that, and he spoke about the somber realization this week on the Up & Adams Show (via Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk).

“I hope so, I hope so,” Sneed said when asked if he would be back with the Chiefs next year. “They can’t keep both of us. Hopefully they got enough for both of us. But you know, they gonna make it happen. I hope so.”

Of course, both Sneed and Jones would need to take significant hometown discounts in order for Kansas City to afford the pair, which just does not seem all that realistic.

Sneed is coming off of a terrific 2023 campaign in which he played 16 games and registered 78 tackles, a couple of interceptions and 14 passes defended.

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.

Injuries limited him to just nine contests during his rookie year, but the following year, Sneed played 15 games and recorded 76 tackles, a sack, a pair of picks, a forced fumble and eight passes defended.

The Minden, La. native then broke out in 2022, participating in every contest and racking up 108 tackles, 3.5 sacks, three interceptions, three forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and 11 passes defended.

Sneed has developed into one of the better cornerbacks in football and has been a part of two Super Bowl runs with the Chiefs, and given the premium that corners command, he is surely due for a hefty payday in free agency.

We’ll see if Kansas City can somehow afford to keep both L’Jarius Sneed and Jones.

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