Chiefs Expected To Use Franchise Tag

Chiefs Expected To Use Franchise Tag

It appears that at least one of the Chiefs’ top defensive free agents will remain for the team’s three-peat bid. Brett Veach revealed (via NFL.com’s James Palmer) that he plans to use the franchise tag this year.

This forecast could apply to either Chris Jones or L’Jarius Sneed, but it is most likely to apply to the younger defender. While Veach stated (via AtoZsports.com’s Charles Goldman) that Jones remains the organization’s top priority, tagging the perennial All-Pro will be difficult because the team previously cuffed him in 2020. This suggests that Sneed will be kept out of the market this year.

Although last week’s salary cap news may make Sneed more expensive to sign, the two-time defending champions will still pay more than $12MM less to keep the four-year corner off the market than the eight-year DT. A Sneed tag will cost the Chiefs $19.8MM, and they will need to clear cap space to make this move. As of Tuesday, the Chiefs had slightly over $16 million in cap space.

Over the course of his four-year career, Sneed demonstrated his ability to play both outside and in the slot, and he provided an impact contract year. Regularly covering No. 1 wide outs and allowing only a 56.2 passer rating as the closest defender, the former fourth-round choice proved vital for a suddenly defense-driven Chiefs  team. This did not garner Sneed an All-Pro nod or a Pro Bowl honor, to the surprise of many, but he has now started for two Super Bowl-winning teams and been a regular defender in three Super Bowls.

If the Chiefs allow Sneed to leave, they may need to authorize a record-breaking cornerback contract to keep him, given the cap’s increase to $255.4MM and the number of clubs in need of CB help. The tag figure now nearly matches Jaire Alexander’s AAV ($21MM), which remains the benchmark at this position. With the Bears expected to tag Jaylon Johnson, Sneed would become the top cornerback available if allowed to enter the market. That appears unlikely to begin. This would be a departure for the Chiefs, who have not placed a great value on paying cornerbacks under Andy Reid. The organization has passed on giving second contracts to Marcus Peters, Steven Nelson, Kendall Fuller, and Charvarius Ward. Sneed appears set to be an exception.

A Sneed cap hold of nearly $20 million will put pressure on the Chiefs to trade Jones, who can begin communicating with other teams on March 11 — the start of the legal tampering period. However, the Combine frequently serves as a preview of what is available for high-profile free agents. Because of the 2020 tag, it would cost the Chiefs more than $32 million to tag their best defense.

Jones and the Chiefs were unable to reach an agreement on an extension last summer, so the potential Hall of Famer held out until Week 1. Jones returned after receiving an incentive package and the possibility of further missed game checks, and he resumed his role as Kansas City’s defensive leader. Jones has stated that he wants to stay, but the sides are running out of time.

Given the fines Jones received for missing practices and then Week 1, it is unlikely that he did not test the market to see what was available. But the Chiefs will undoubtedly strive to prevent this from happening. The organization wanted to extend Jones on a deal more in line with the younger crop of DTs who formed a new second tier at the position last summer, but Jones, who signed a four-year, $80MM extension last season, wanted a price closer to Aaron Donald’s $31.7MM-AAV contract. After another spectacular season (and the cap’s rising), the 29-year-old standout will be in a good position to get a near-Donald-level contract soon.

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