It goes without saying that the Kansas City Chiefs defense was a major factor in the team’s back-to-back Super Bowl victories.
Regretfully, Chris Jones and L’Jarius Sneed, two of the Chiefs’ best defensive players, became free agents in March. Jones’ franchise tag would set the Chiefs back more than $32 million. According to Spotrac.com, Sneed will sign a free agency contract worth $65 million for four years.
Keeping both looks very difficult, even with the 2024 salary cap that has been raised. On February 19, ESPN insider Dan Graziano stated, “Jones is the team’s best player not named Patrick Mahomes, and his game-wrecking performance in the Super Bowl only highlighted his value.”
Graziano says it’s hardly shocking that Jones is given priority. “For the past couple of years, Kansas City has been preparing for [Sneed’s] potential exit.”
Trent McDuffie, the cornerback, has two more years left on his $13.9 million rookie contract, so Graziano thinks the Chiefs “may just let [Sneed] walk.”
“It would be difficult to replace Seed because he is among the best corners in the league and a vital component of the Chiefs’ defense (nine pass breakups in the previous season and ten career interceptions),” Graziano said. However, the Chiefs have selected four cornerbacks in the previous two rounds, including Trent Mcduffie, a first-round pick in 2022 who seems more than prepared to assume the position of starting cornerback in the event that Sneed goes.
“They have been ready for the likelihood of this happening with their draft approach. Jones is a top-five defender in the league and the engine of their pass rush; he appears to be harder to replace than Sneed.
