NFL Rumors: Chiefs' L'Jarius Sneed Seeking Contract to Be League's Highest-Paid CB

It appears Kansas City Chiefs star L'Jarius Sneed is looking to reset the cornerback market with his next deal.

Sneed, who received the $19.8 million franchise tag from the Chiefs earlier this month, "would like to land a contract that would conceivably make him the highest-paid cornerback in all of football," ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Monday on NFL Live.

Schefter said:

"The Chiefs are prepared, if they have to, to move forward with L'Jarius Sneed playing on a one-year deal. That's not what he would like to do. He would like to land a contract that would conceivably make him the highest-paid cornerback in all of football. He's played himself into that position. But so far, there has not been a team out there that is willing to satisfy the Chiefs with the proper compensation and L'Jarius Sneed. Now, getting a contract done with Sneed seems to be the easiest part and there seems to be consensus that he would become the highest-paid cornerback in the league, but there has to be a team that makes an offer compelling enough to Kansas City to make the Chiefs want to trade him. And right now, that hasn't happened."

When the Chiefs placed the franchise tag on Sneed, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported that the franchise was "open to consummate a trade off it if no long-term deal is reached."

Fowler added that Sneed "is agreeable to the scenario, giving him [a] chance to talk with other teams while K.C. remains in play."

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport added that the Chiefs gave Sneed permission to explore a trade.

The Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans are interested in making a trade for Sneed, according to Matt Verderame of Sports Illustrated. However, he added that the veteran's price is "too high."

Kansas City selected Sneed in the fourth round of the 2020 draft out of Louisiana Tech and he has emerged as one of the most effective corners in the league. He put together arguably the best season of his career in 2022, recording three interceptions, 3.5 sacks, 11 passes defended, three forced fumbles and 108 tackles in 17 games.

The 27-year-old is also coming off an impressive 2023 campaign in which he posted two interceptions, 14 passes defended, one fumble recovery and 78 tackles in 16 games.

Sneed has also played a big role in each of Kansas City's last two Super Bowl runs, posting five passes defended, one forced fumble and 34 tackles in seven games in that span.

The highest-paid cornerbacks in the NFL on a per-year basis are Green Bay Packers' Jaire Alexander ($21 million AAV), Cleveland Browns' Denzel Ward ($20.1 million AAV) and Miami Dolphins' Jalen Ramsey ($20 million AAV), per OverTheCap.

Sneed's $19.8 million franchise tag for 2024 ranks fourth in the league behind the trio.

It's unclear which teams, if any, would be willing to pay Sneed more than the $21 million per year that Alexander currently makes.