Surprising Chiefs Player Demands Contract Extension with All-Pro Play
By Joe Summers
He hasn't verbally demanded any extension, but L'Jarius Sneed's intentions this year can be understood without saying anything at all.
Sneed wants a contract extension with the Chiefs and his play makes that clear. By any measure, the 2020 fourth-round pick is demanding a long-term extension with All-Pro play while smothering every top receiver opposing teams throw at him.
Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo's versatile wild card is one of the NFL's most dominant cornerbacks through five weeks.
If he keeps this up, Brett Veach will have no choice but to sign Sneed to an extension.
L'Jarius Sneed's Incredible Performance Demands Extension
PFF tracks CB v WR matchups. This is L'Jarius Sneed v WR1s past 4 weeks:
— Ron Kopp Jr. (@Ron_Kopp) October 9, 2023
v Ridley: 5 tgts, 2 recs, 32 yds, 4 YAC
v Moore: 4 tgts, 1 rec, 3 yds, 4 YAC
v Wilson: 6 tgts, 3 rec, 24 yds, 3 YAC
v Jefferson: 3 tgts, 2 rec, 14 yds, 6 YAC
44% catch rate, & only 17 YAC allowed on 8 recs
Despite missing most of training camp and the preseason due to injury, Sneed has played every game this year. You couldn't tell if he's been hampered, as maybe no other corner in the NFL has been more impressive.
Trent McDuffie gets the love amidst a clear breakout season, but Sneed has been just as good. Perhaps no other team boasts a duo at this level, though Sneed is the driving force behind the Chiefs' dominant secondary.
Mahomes mentioned L’Jarius Sneed as a guy who needs to be taken care of. That’s noteworthy. https://t.co/tieRefxkEc
— Matt Verderame (@MattVerderame) May 24, 2023
Even back in May, Patrick Mahomes recognized Sneed's importance to this team. I've long assumed Brett Veach planned to let Sneed walk in free agency yet that take looks worse every week.
The most impressive part of Sneed's exceptional coverage statistics? He's not considered a shut-down corner. Sneed's entire value proposition is that he's versatile and can blitz effectively, not that he shuts down top receivers.
If that jack-of-all-trades suddenly becomes one of the league's best shadow corners? Back up the Brink's Truck. Brett Veach is out of options - L'Jarius Sneed deserves to stay with the organization.
Pairing Sneed with McDuffie for the long haul will give Kansas City one of the NFL's most dominant secondaries for years to come. What better way to ensure the Chiefs remain Super Bowl contenders than combining a top-five secondary with Patrick Mahomes?
Fingers crossed we find out.
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