Kansas City Chiefs: L’Jarius Sneed could be surprise rookie gem

By Leigh Oleszczak | May 26, 2020

Defensive back L'Jarius Sneed of Louisiana Tech (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

The Kansas City Chiefs selected L’Jarius Sneed in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft and Bleacher Report thinks he could be their surprise rookie gem this season.

When looking at the Kansas City Chiefs‘ 2020 draft class, most assume that first round pick Clyde Edwards-Helaire will be the star at the end of the season and he very well may be. It’s easier to pinpoint the success of a running back than that of a defensive back. Edwards-Helaire being the standout rookie would be expected though.

Who could be the surprising rookie for the KC Chiefs in 2020? Well, Brent Sobleski of Bleacher Report published an article of who he predicts will be each team’s surprise rookie gem and went with L’Jarius Sneed being that for the Chiefs.

Here is what Sobleski said about why he went with Sneed,

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"The 6’0″ defensive back converted from corner to safety during his final season on campus and finished second on the Louisiana Tech roster with 73 total tackles.Kansas City has some uncertainty at the position, especially since Bashaud Breeland‘s status is unclear. Sneed could start at outside corner if Breeland misses any time."

It’s been pretty well known that the Chiefs see Sneed as more of a corner than that of a safety even if he was drafted as a safety. As Sobleski noted in his write-up, Sneed spent time at both cornerback and at safety during his collegiate career and that’s likely what drew the Chiefs to him in the fourth round. Well, that and his blazing fast speed, which is something KC most definitely covets.

Also noted in the blurb is the suspension Bashaud Breeland is probably facing and how Sneed could be forced to step in while Breeland is out. The Chiefs still have Charvarius Ward and Rashad Fenton, but they’ll still need some help without Breeland – Sneed could be that form of help.

The cornerback position is one that the Kansas City Chiefs always seem to have a need for. Year after year they’re trying to find a cornerback to add to their team and with Kendall Fuller leaving this offseason, they were in that boat once again. Sneed might not be what Fuller was, but there’s potential there.

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We’ll know more about the cornerback situation once we know how much time Breeland is going to miss, but if he does indeed miss an extended period of time, L’Jarius Sneed might have to step up. If he gets the call and impresses, then he could go down as one of the biggest steals of the draft.

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