It's been a steep fall from grace for L’Jarius Sneed.
Sneed was once an integral piece of a Super Bowl-winning defense with the Kansas City Chiefs. Now, however, he finds himself in the middle of a serious off-field controversy after an injury-plagued season in Tennessee. In retrospect, the Chiefs may have dodged a major bullet by moving on when they did.
Drafted in the fourth round in 2020, Sneed instantly became one of Brett Veach's biggest hits. Sneed was a Week 1 starter as a rookie, and he became a cornerstone of Steve Spagnuolo’s defense as one of the best overall performers in the Chiefs’ victories in Super Bowl LVII and LVIII.
While the Chiefs loved having Sneed's impact in the secondary during his tenure, the team seemed mixed on the potential of a long-term contract extension in 2024. The Chiefs also had Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson, among others, and Veach had to be selective about his financial commitments.
The Chiefs' decision to trade away L'Jarius Sneed looks better than ever.
After deciding to use the franchise tag on Sneed, Veach ultimately traded him to the Tennessee Titans for a future third-round draft choice (2025). At the time, it seemed like a tough loss for Kansas City. Sneed signed a four-year, $76 million contract with Tennessee, a big payday for a young, ascending talent. However, one year later, the move looks like a shrewd decision for Veach.
Sneed struggled out of the gate in Tennessee. He failed to record a single pass breakup in five games before suffering a significant quad injury against the Colts in October. He was placed on injured reserve in late November and didn't return to action for the Titans for the rest of the year.
Even worse, Sneed was recently sued in a civil suit after an alleged shooting incident outside a Texas auto dealership. The lawsuit claims Sneed or his associate fired a gun at the plaintiff while inside a Lamborghini that was registered to Sneed. Though no one was injured, the situation led to an aggravated assault with a deadly weapon arrest for Sneed.
In hindsight, Kansas City’s decision not to extend Sneed's contract looks like another masterstroke by Brett Veach. The Chiefs now boast a bright young secondary with an agreeable overall price tag. Meanwhile, the Titans are now dealing with the financial ramifications of an injured corner who is facing a long legal battle.
Watching Sneed walk wasn’t easy in 2024, but it may have saved Kansas City from salary cap headaches and off-the-field turmoil.
