The Kansas City Chiefs’ secondary is in the midst of a significant transformation this offseason. With key players like Bryan Cook, Trent McDuffie, Joshua Williams, and Jaylen Watson all moving on, the cornerback and safety positions are seeing a complete overhaul. It’s a new era for the Chiefs’ defense, and the depth chart could look almost unrecognizable by the time the season kicks off.
Enter L’Jarius Sneed, a familiar face who is now a free agent after being released by the Tennessee Titans. Sneed’s last couple of years have been anything but smooth sailing.
Despite pocketing $43 million over the past two seasons, he’s battled injuries on the field and faced legal issues off it. Thankfully, the latter seems to be resolved, leaving his physical health as the main concern moving forward.
Despite these changes, the Chiefs aren’t devoid of talent in their secondary. Mansoor Delane has emerged as a key player, and Kader Kohou has been brought in to compete for slot cornerback duties.
Jadon Canady, a recent draft pick, is also in the mix for playing time. The team still has Nohl Williams and Kristian Fulton on the roster, though it’s unclear how the organization views Fulton’s role.
Kevin Knowles and Chris Roland-Wallace add further depth, while Kaiir Elam is seen as a potential comeback story.
With so many questions surrounding the cornerback position, a reunion with Sneed isn’t out of the realm of possibility. While the Chiefs have made moves that might suggest they’re ready to move on from Sneed, the reality is there’s still uncertainty.
Kohou missed the entire last season due to injury, and Elam has yet to live up to his potential in the NFL. Delane and Canady are untested at this level, so expecting them to step in as immediate starters might be overly optimistic.
If Kohou struggles, Canady needs more time to develop, or Fulton remains an enigma, there’s a clear opening for a player like Sneed. Just a couple of years ago, Sneed was known as a lockdown corner in a championship-caliber defense, which led to the Chiefs tagging and trading him.
While Sneed shouldn’t be expected to walk back into his former starting role, bringing him in for a physical and discussing a potential fit could be a smart move. The Chiefs have made significant strides in reshaping their cornerback group, but as long as Sneed remains on the market, the possibility of a homecoming in Kansas City will linger.
