The Kansas City Chiefs have made a living off buying and selling players at the right valuations, and the latest NFL free agency cut rumors could set up a reunion with a former fan favorite that was traded at the perfect time.
The Chiefs shipped off do-it-all defensive back L’Jarius Sneed to the Tennessee Titans in March of 2024. In return, they received a 2025 third-round pick and a 2024 pick swap. A solid deal, considering KC couldn’t afford to pay Sneed what he wanted at the time.
Tennessee could, hence the trade, but now the Titans may be looking to cut ties with their big-money cornerback.
The Titans can save approximately $11.442 million if they cut Sneed before June 1. If they designate him as a post-June 1 release, Tennessee can free up even more cap space, shedding $15.5 million, according to Over the Cap.
Either way, veteran NFL reporter Greg Auman of FOX Sports believes the Titans will move on.
Auman ranked Sneed as his 15th most likely cut candidate ahead of NFL free agency. He also outlined why a Kansas City reunion may be on the horizon.
“Sneed, 29, was a huge signing from the Chiefs two years ago — $19 million a year — but after missing only three games in his final three seasons in Kansas City, he’s played only 12 games in two years in Tennessee due to quad and knee injuries,” Auman explained.
“No interceptions and a full regime change mean he’s likely done with the Titans, who have plenty of cap space but can move on here,” the reporter went on. He concluded that “going back to the Chiefs on the cheap could help their difficult cap decisions.”
L’Jarius Sneed Would Make Sense for Chiefs as Jaylen Watson Replacement in NFL Free Agency
GettyThe Tennessee Titans are expected to cut cornerback L’Jarius Sneed in 2026.
The Chiefs will likely have a difficult time re-signing cornerback Jaylen Watson in NFL free agency. They’ve set themselves up with in-house options to replace him, including veteran Kristian Fulton and second-year draft pick Nohl Williams.
Having said that, someone like Sneed would make defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo feel a lot more comfortable.
Sneed was a perfect fit inside Spagnuolo’s system, and he worked better as a Swiss army knife than a CB1. That’s part of the reason things didn’t work out in Tennessee.
But the Chiefs don’t have to worry about that. Kansas City has the trio of Trent McDuffie, Fulton, and Williams to pair with Sneed. That would allow Spagnuolo to mix and match as he pleases, with McDuffie and Sneed as two versatile players who can play most roles.
If Sneed agrees to re-sign for cheap, as Auman suggested, that would be the cherry on top.
Chiefs’ Free Agency Rumors at Defensive Back
The Chiefs have a total of seven defensive backs who are set to hit the open market. Watson and starting safety Bryan Cook headline the group, and both are expected to price their way out of town.
After that, former draft picks Joshua Williams and Nazeeh Johnson could re-sign, depending on their interest around the league, and the rest of the free agent DBs are practice-squad-level reserves.
Either way, KC will have some holes to fill in the secondary this offseason. It’ll be interesting to see if they try to retain their guys or look elsewhere for help, as they did last spring.
Chiefs Reunion Idea Emerges Amid NFL Free Agency Cut Rumors