Patrick Mahomes has restructured his contract to bolster the Kansas City Chiefs’ cap space for a potential Super Bowl three-peat bid. This maneuver allowed the Chiefs to secure vital defensive assets, notably retaining defensive end Chris Jones with a lucrative contract extension.
However, cornerback L’Jarius Sneed faced uncertainty under the franchise tag, leading to a late February trade saga. Several teams have been vying for his services, especially due to his impressive performance with the Chiefs. He is now poised for a blockbuster trade to the Tennessee Titans.
Details on L’Jarius Sneed’s Titans contract
Just hours after reports surfaced of a contract standoff between L’Jarius Sneed and the Chiefs, ESPN’s Adam Schefter dropped a bombshell saying Sneed is set to join the Titans.
According to NFL Insider Jordan Schultz, the Titans are poised to ink the young star to a lucrative four-year, $76 million deal with $55M guaranteed. The deal will earn him $19 million per year, making him one of the highest-paid cornerbacks in the league. This move comes on the heels of the Chiefs’ decision to place the nonexclusive franchise tag on Sneed, opening the door for other teams to pursue a trade.
The defending champion team is set to receive a 2025 3rd-round pick and a 2024 7th-round pick flop in exchange for the trade. Once the trade is finalized pending Sneed’s physical, they will free up a substantial $19.8 million against their salary cap.
For Sneed, the move to the Titans represents a new chapter in his career. He openly expressed his desire to remain with the Chiefs, but his journey now takes him to Nashville, where he will join forces with cornerback Chidobe Awuzie in fortifying the Titans’ secondary. The Titans have already bolstered their offseason acquisitions and see Sneed as a key piece in their quest for dominance in the AFC South.
L’Jarius Sneed’s performances with Chiefs
L’Jarius Sneed quickly became a defensive force for the Chiefs after being drafted in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He wasted no time showing his skills, making an immediate impact as a rookie with three interceptions, two sacks, 41 tackles, and seven passes defended in just nine games.
However, it was during the 2022 season that Sneed truly stepped up his game. He put together an impressive stat line, recording three interceptions, 3.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, 108 tackles, and 11 passes defended over 17 games. His knack for disrupting opposing offenses and creating turnovers proved crucial to the Chiefs’ success on the field.
The young star continued his stellar performance into the 2023 season. He recorded 78 total tackles, five tackles for loss, a fumble recovery, 14 pass defenses, and two interceptions last season. Sneed made an incredible play in the AFC Championship Game by forcing a crucial fumble near the goal line after being taunted by Baltimore Ravens Zay Flowers.
Even on the grand stage of the Super Bowl against the San Francisco 49ers, Sneed showcased his defensive prowess. He recorded three tackles and a crucial pass deflection, helping the Chiefs secure victory. He will now expect to replicate the same performance with the Titans.
