Which KC Chiefs players will benefit most from first-round bye?

Cornerback L’Jarius Sneed

Defensive tackle Chris Jones is certainly the Chiefs’ most important defensive player. But cornerback L’Jarius Sneed is a very close second.

The third-year veteran is certainly outplaying his rookie contract in Kansas City and is cemented as the team’s CB1 entering the playoffs. Rookie Trent McDuffie is a solid CB2 in his debut season, but rookies Jaylen Watson and Joshua Williams have been volatile so far. Their performances have only made Sneed’s presence even more important. He is undergoing a schematic change, shifting from the slot to more closely mirroring a team’s top receiving option. That was apparent in recent games against the Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos.

Sneed started off the 2022 season a little rough but has certainly improved. He has allowed one receiving touchdown since Week 10, with three interceptions in that same span. Sneed’s value only increases once defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo dials up the blitz. His 3.5 sacks and ten total pressures lead all cornerbacks and are career highs for Sneed. All in all, Sneed has been asked to do everything for the Chiefs’ defense and has been a game-changer on multiple occasions.

Sneed did pop up on the Week 18 injury report, and the Chiefs listed him as questionable. Think about fans’ anxiety over that designation if the Chiefs were playing the Bengals, Bills, or even the Los Angeles Chargers. That shows how valuable Sneed is to this team and this defense. If Kansas City must face a top wideout, they want Sneed ready to go.

With how much Sneed did during the regular season, Kansas City wants him to be as healthy as possible. A hip pointer is another minor but nagging injury for any NFL player. Hopefully, the week off will dampen Sneed’s injury effect in the divisional round.