Looking back, just a few years ago, the Kansas City Chiefs’ cornerback play was an underrated pillar to their last Super Bowl victory. Led by L’Jarius Sneed, Trent McDuffie, and Jaylen Watson, these physical corners excelled in defensive coordinator mastermind Steve Spagnuolo’s scheme, allowing just 176.5 passing yards per game in the 2023 season.
Now, the current iteration of the Chiefs' cornerbacks' room doesn’t look anywhere close to what it once was. None of those three are on the roster, and with the NFL draft just seven days away, one of Kansas City's most pressing needs is now the very position that was once a strength.
This shift can be traced back to the decision to trade Sneed to the Tennessee Titans in the 2024 offseason. Although the move made financial sense at the time, as Sneed would sign a four-year, $76.4 million contract with the Titans, it left a void in the secondary that was never filled.
The change of scenery didn’t work in Sneed’s favor either, as underwhelming play and a nagging quad injury led Tennessee to release him after just two seasons. It’s now been over a month since the two-time Super Bowl champion was cut, and with the draft on the horizon, there is plenty of uncertainty about his future in the league.
Ex-Chiefs Star L'Jarius Sneed’s Future Is Now at a Crossroads
There are several reasons why Sneed remains unsigned. For starters, he was nowhere near the same player with the Titans. In his two seasons in Tennessee, Sneed appeared in just 12 games, logging 49 total tackles, while also allowing 22 receptions on 42 targets for 331 yards and four touchdowns.
This drop in production affected his evaluation. Sneed posted his two lowest overall grades with the Titans, per Pro Football Focus. In 2024, Sneed posted an overall grade of 36.3, followed by a slightly better, but still underwhelming, 2025 season, in which he earned an overall grade of 50.4.
While a nagging quad injury played a part in his dip in performance, it’s evident Sneed isn’t the great player many anticipated him to be outside of Spagnuolo's scheme.
Once viewed as a physical, dependable corner capable of matching up with an opposing team’s best receiver, Sneed couldn’t live up to the expectations of a lockdown corner. As a result, Sneed is no longer regarded as one of the better players at his position and is instead viewed as an aging rotational player who can bolster a team’s secondary depth.
Even though Sneed has some quality football left in the tank, teams would rather draft and develop a corner than take a chance on an older player at a skill position. Every NFL general manager operates under the unofficial motto of “what have you done for me lately,” and by underperforming in limited reps, Sneed hasn’t generated interest.
It’s not just Sneed that’s been affected by this, either. Cornerbacks Marshon Lattimore, Trevon Diggs, and Tre’Davious White are among the other veterans who remain unsigned as teams look to inject youth into their secondary.
While Sneed’s future looks gloomy, there’s still a chance he's on a roster before the start of the season. Free agency activity tends to pick up after the draft, when the value of the remaining free agents drops and teams put the finishing touches on their rosters.
Additionally, several injuries occur during training camp, giving Sneed another opportunity to join a team. If the time comes, Sneed must prove that he's still capable of contributing at a high level.
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