Chiefs Use Franchise Tag On L'Jarius Sneed, Could Rams Trade For Star CB?
What was assumed for weeks is now finally official as the Kansas City Chiefs have placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on star cornerback L'Jarius Sneed, preventing him from hitting the open market next week.
Even after that move, it's still not certain if Sneed will be back with the Super Bowl champs next season. The non-exclusive franchise tag allows him to speak with other teams regarding a trade, and considering that the Chiefs aren't exactly swimming in cap space, it's very possible that Sneed could play elsewhere come September.
If the Chiefs do indeed make Sneed available, the Los Angeles Rams should make some inquiries on the star corner.
Jan 28, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Kansas City Chiefs cornerback L'Jarius Sneed (38) celebrates as cornerback Trent McDuffie (22) recovers a fumble against Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers (4) and wide receiver Nelson Agholor (15) for a turnover during the second half in the AFC Championship football game at M&T Bank Stadium.
Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Fresh off a surprise playoff appearance, the Rams are looking to take the next step to become a contender once more. In order to do that, though, they'll need some help in the secondary, and there's no way around it.
L.A. finished in the bottom half of the league in most passing stats last season, already not a great start. The Rams' cornerback situation gets even more dire when Ahkello Witherspoon, who defended a team-high 14 passes last season, is about to hit free agency and the rest of the position cornerback group is very young.
Sneed, who didn't allow a single touchdown in coverage during the regular season, would immediately give the Rams a game-changer in the secondary. He's also a two-time Super Bowl champion, and more championship experience is never a bad thing.
Even though he would cost a pretty penny, the Rams can certainly afford to pay him what he wants as they have almost $44 million in cap space.
Sneed is likely better than any other free-agent cornerback available this offseason, so if Rams general manager Les Snead is serious about making the jump, it wouldn't be too shocking to see him pull the trigger.
