The L'Jarius Sneed saga in Kansas City is finally over. Unfortunately, it didn't get resolved the way Chiefs fans were hoping for as Sneed is headed to the Titans via a trade.
There is no sugarcoating how devastating a loss this is. Sneed has recently emerged as one of the best cornerbacks in the league, and at age 27, he is still in his prime.
However, there might be one silver lining to all of this. The Sneed trade removes his $19.8 million franchise tag off the Chiefs' books, giving them more cap space to bring back a few of their key players from last season.
With L’Jarius Sneed’s $19.8M franchise tag going off Kansas City’s books, they have more flexibility to potentially re-sign free agents such as Mike Danna and Donovan Smith.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 23, 2024
Here are the four names the Chiefs should prioritize re-signing with their newfound financial flexibility.
1. Donovan Smith
Perhaps the biggest hole for the Chiefs now is on the offensive line. Donovan Smith is a free agent and is still available on the market. Patrick Mahomes' blindside protector started in 12 games last season and should be at the top of the list for the 2024 campaign as well.
Second-year tackle Wanya Morris or another selection in the 2024 NFL Draft could potentially take Smith's place if he were to leave but that is a big risk given the lack of experience. Going from a two-time Super Bowl winner with experience of protecting Tom Brady and Mahomes to a virtual unknown is not something the Chiefs should be thrilled to do.
2. Michael Danna
One of the understated reasons for the Chiefs' success on the defensive side of the ball last season was the emergence of Mike Danna. The 26-year-old defensive end continued his development from year to year to emerge as a solid and productive pass rusher.
Danna set career-highs across the board with 6.5 sacks, 50 tackles, and 13 QB hits, impressively playing in 74% of defensive snaps for the Chiefs.
That kind of production is hard to replace. If the former Michigan standout were to leave, promising second-year EDGE Felix Anudike-Uzomah would replace him. That similarly carries his own risks.
Anudike-Uzomah didn't have the best rookie season, and at this stage of his career, he is more of a third-down edge defender. It would be a big risk to trust him with a much larger role.
Pro Football Focus projects a three-year, $24.75 million deal for Danna. For a defensive end who is only 26 and consistently getting better, that is a price tag the Chiefs should be happy to pay.
3. Mecole Hardman
The main priorities for the Chiefs should be to re-sign Smith and Danna. If there is additional financial flexibility, or they fail to retain one of them, they can look further down this list for depth options.
One of these players who is not of the utmost priority but would be nice to have back is Mecole Hardman.
The Chiefs find themselves in the same situation with Hardman they did in the last offseason. The former second-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft signed with the Jets last year. Things didn't work out so the Chiefs acquired him again mid-season. Now, his contract expired and Kansas City seems unsure about what to make of him.
The wide receiver rotation will certainly look a lot different next year as the Chiefs desperately needed more high-level playmaking. They hope to get that from Marquise Brown, who will be replacing Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Kadarius Toney's situation remains uncertain.
Hardman's familiarity with Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes perhaps makes him a more intriguing depth option rather than taking a flyer on a rookie. But, he is likely better off in a more limited role if the Chiefs want to go for the three-peat.
4. Jerick McKinnon
This is the annual offseason tradition for the Kansas City Chiefs and Jerick McKinnon. The veteran rusher has hit the free-agent market once again after signing three straight one-year contracts with Kansas City.
At age 31, McKinnon is nothing more than a change-of-pace option in the backfield for Mahomes. Isiah Pacheco will continue to get the majority of carries but McKinnon provides a different pass-catching element in the rotation. In fact, in his three seasons with the Chiefs, he registered 94 catches, 811 yards, and 14 receiving touchdowns.
This certainly has plenty of value, especially considering that Clyde Edwards-Helaire will likely be leaving. A cheap veteran option who is still productive is worth bringing back.
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