There's a predictable script ahead for L'Jarius Sneed. So far, the first act is going according to plan.
The Tennessee Titans were expected to rid themselves of the Sneed experiment this offseason by releasing the veteran cornerback after two frustrating seasons. In doing so, the Titans will save themselves over $11 million against the salary cap and the uncertainty that came with employing him.
On Friday, the Titans did as they were supposed to. Sneed was officially released and will become a free agent who can sign with any team. Now the second act is expected to get underway, and that's where the Kansas City Chiefs enter the scene.
The Chiefs have a significant need at cornerback after watching three of them leave in the last week. Trent McDuffie was traded to the L.A. Rams in a blockbuster trade shortly before free agency began. Then Jaylen Watson followed him to SoCal after signing a three-year deal with the Rams on the open market. Joshua Williams also left to sign with the Titans, leaving the position in a delicate position in terms of both talent and depth.
The Titans have cut ties with L'Jarius Sneed, and we all know what comes next.
If Sneed is healthy, which is itself an important plot point, it's natural to expect him to at least warrant a look from the Chiefs to see what's still left in the tank and how he might fit in a defense that he helped to anchor as recently as 2023.
The Chiefs drafted Sneed in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft and put him to work immediately as an important contributor in the face of injury. Sneed would rise to the occasion and eventually grow into a lockdown corner known for shutting down the opponent's top receiver. That earned the franchise tag upon the expiration of his rookie contract, and the Chiefs then traded him to the Titans for a third-round choice.
The Titans not only paid the draft asset to acquire him, but they also served up a lucrative four-year extension to retain him through his prime. The vision was Sneed as foundational piece in a rebuilt secondary, but injuries kept it from being fulfilled. Instead, Sneed's deal was an albatross of a contract, a player who deflected 3 passes in 12 total games over the last two years.
Even when he was healthy, Sneed didn't look the part of a shutdown corner anymore, which is where the assumed reunion with the Chiefs comes into question. While the Chiefs have a need at corner, it only works if Sneed has something to offer, and that much is not yet known. Quad issues have robbed him of his effectiveness when on the field while largely keeping him off of it, and his health is going to be the question for K.C. or any interested team.
But what makes sense at this stage of the storyline is for the Chiefs to emerge as a potential suitor and, at least, have Sneed in for a visit or to start those conversations. Perhaps they go nowhere and the script doesn't play out. Then again, perhaps a homecoming is in the cards for a player who needs a fresh start and a team that could use some assistance.