KC Chiefs: Reviewing the 2020 rookie class

L’Jarius Sneed – Cornerback

Perhaps the biggest steal of the entire 2020 NFL Draft was the Chiefs fourth round selection of cornerback L’Jarius Sneed from Louisiana Tech. Whether it was the lack of top tier talent faced in college, or the fact that he switched from corner to safety before his senior year, the Chiefs were the clear beneficiaries of the rest of the NFL passing on the defensive back over and over again. In a redraft of 2020, Sneed would easily be taken in the top half of the first round—a truly remarkable selection for Brett Veach and company.

Due to Bashaud Breeland’s suspendion for the first four games on the 2020 season, Sneed was a starter from Week 1 in Kansas City, and he did not disappoint. Sneed was excellent in coverage, including 2 interceptions and 3 passes defensed, in the first three weeks of his NFL career.

Unfortunately, during their Week Three victory over Baltimore, Sneed broke his collarbone and missed the next eight weeks of the season while he recovered. Despite the absence, Sneed returned in Week 11 as a starter and picked up right where he left off as a dominant defender for the Chiefs. In addition to being an excellent cover man, Sneed also excelled late in the season as a blitz specialist, recording 4 sacks in 4 consecutive games (excluding Week 17 when he did not play) for Spagnuolo’s defense.

If we’re all correct and Sneed is a legitimate shutdown corner, and we’re correct that safety Juan Thornhill’s late season surge means a true return to his 2019 form, then Kansas City has a pair of young secondary budding superstars to build the unit around. Assuming they extend All-Pro Tyrann Mathieu, the secondary will continue to be a strength of the defense for the foreseeable future.