Super Bowl Champion Has One Request: “Pay Me” In Free Agency

Super Bowl Champion Has One Request: “Pay Me” In Free Agency

Chris Jones and L’Jarius Sneed are the Kansas City Chiefs’ top free-agent objectives. Both guys contributed significantly to Kansas City’s recent title, as the squad became the first in NFL history to limit 20 opponents to 25 or fewer points.

In today’s pass-heavy NFL, identifying guys who can slow down opposition passing offenses is critical to developing a long-term winner. Jones can accomplish this by compressing the pocket and pursuing the quarterback, whereas Sneed can shadow and eliminate an opponent’s top receiver. With both players poised to become free agents, can the Chiefs afford to re-sign Chris Jones and L’Jarius Sneed?

Only time will tell, but L’Jarius Sneed hopes everyone returns during free agency. However, during his appearance on Up & Adams, the cornerback did not appear to be enthusiastic about a possible reunion.

“I sincerely hope so. They cannot keep both of us. Hopefully, they have enough for both of us. But, you know, they’ll make it happen. “I hope so.”

Right away, it appears that L’Jarius Sneed believes the organization lacks the means to sign him and Jones, though he hopes to be proven incorrect. It is also realistic to anticipate that Sneed will not accept a local discount, later stating that “you never know how it goes” in contract discussions. When asked what he wanted to say to General Manager Brett Veach, he provided a direct response.

L’Jarius Sneed Says “You Never Know How It Goes” In Free Agency

The entire objective of the pay cap is to promote parity so that organizations cannot hoard all of their best players. If it were the 1970s, the Chiefs would find a method to prevent Chris Jones and L’Jarius Sneed from becoming free agents. However, in this day and age, it will be difficult to keep the band together.

As of this writing, Kansas City has $23.78 million in available cap space. This may appear to be a large sum, but Jones and Sneed would significantly reduce it if both players were re-signed to market-level contracts. If someone obtains the franchise tag, they may go over the salary cap.

Chris Jones and L’Jarius Sneed are both excellent players, but signing them would prevent the Chiefs from being active in free agency. This club still needs another wide receiver and some tackle depth, which Jones and Sneed won’t be able to provide with their big-money contracts.

Barring an unexpected development, the Chiefs will most likely have to let one of Chris Jones or L’Jarius Sneed go free. While Jones is the older player, he is also the better one, implying that Sneed has likely played his final snap in Kansas City. Fortunately for the cornerback, multiple organizations will gladly pay top dollar for his talents.

Possible Team Fits:

Detroit Lions

After spending 2023 as lovable underdogs, the Detroit Lions now have a bullseye on their back. The squad came close to making the Super Bowl last year, but if they want to go again, they’ll need to improve their defense. Signing L’Jarius Sneed in free agency would address their largest problem, and with $48.12 million in salary space, they should be able to easily reach an agreement.

Washington Commanders

Last season, the Washington Commanders struggled to stop anything on defense. While the offense wasn’t terrific, the defense was the main reason the squad finished with the second-worst record in the league. First-year head coach Dan Quinn understands the importance of a talented cornerback for a defense, and with the most cap space in the league, he should be able to easily sign L’Jarius Sneed in free agency while also addressing the pass rush with someone like Jadeveon Clowney.

Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens will have an interesting offense. After finishing with the league’s best regular season record, the team is expected to lose several important free agents. Rather than attempting to replace numerous players in free agency, the team might consider investing in someone like L’Jarius Sneed to strengthen its secondary. If coverage improves, the pass rush will be less vital, and the club may be able to lose Clowney and Kyle Van Noy without hurting greatly.

New England Patriots

Christian Gonzalez, a first-round choice, looked like a future All-Pro throughout the first month of the 2023 season. While injuries cut short his debut season, he should be back to full health by 2024. The Patriots prefer man coverage more than any other team, and this is unlikely to alter under Jerod Mayo. Signing a quality cornerback like L’Jarius Sneed in free agency will give New England one of the top defenses in the league, which may be enough to compensate for a poor offense.

Los Angeles Chargers

The Los Angeles Chargers have too much quality to be so terrible on defense. Head coach Jim Harbaugh is anticipated to clear away some big-name cap casualties in the coming days, leaving the team with enough money to pursue L’Jarius Sneed in free agency. Not only will this address their largest defensive need, but it will also make the division foe Chiefs slightly weaker.

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