NFL Trade Rumors: Chiefs’ L’Jarius Sneed Contract Demands Revealed; Doesn’t Want Tag

Amid rumors about trade talks involving L’Jarius Sneed, the 27-year-old is still with the Kansas City Chiefs in part because of the contract that whichever team acquires him would have to give him.

Per The Athletic’s Nate Taylor, Sneed doesn’t want to play on the franchise tag and is seeking a deal of either three or four years that would make him one of the highest-paid cornerbacks in the NFL.

The Chiefs used the franchise tag to prevent Sneed from becoming a free agent. He is guaranteed $19.8 million in 2024 on the one-year tender.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on Feb. 28 that Sneed received permission from the Chiefs to seek a trade.

It’s been difficult to determine how much of a market there is for Sneed. Matt Verderame of Sports Illustrated reported on March 16 that both the Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans were in the mix, but they were turned off by what he wants in his next contract.

On Monday’s episode of The Pat McAfee Show, ESPN’s Adam Schefter said the Colts haven’t had any discussions with the Chiefs about Sneed.

Taylor reported the Chiefs and Titans got to the point where they had a framework of a deal worked out, but it fell apart when Tennessee “couldn’t sign off” due to Sneed’s contract demands. Instead, the Titans pivoted by signing wide receiver Calvin Ridley to a four-year, $92 million deal.

Other teams once believed to have interest in Sneed include the New England Patriots, Minnesota Vikings and Atlanta Falcons, but Taylor pointed out those clubs have “stopped engaging” with the Chiefs.

Per NFL Network’s Jeff Chadiha, the Chiefs “want a second-round pick” if they trade Sneed.

Jaylon Johnson, the other top cornerback who was set to be a free agent this offseason, was initially given the franchise tag by the Chicago Bears. He wound up signing a four-year, $76 million deal with the club before free agency began.

Jaire Alexander of the Green Bay Packers and Denzel Ward of the Cleveland Browns are the only cornerbacks who are currently making at least $20 million per season. Those deals were signed in 2022.

Since then, the top cornerbacks have all signed new contracts for less than $20 million per season. That group includes Johnson, Trevon Diggs ($19.4 million) and Jalen Ramsey ($18.3 million).

One factor that could be working against Sneed is age. He’s 21 months older than Diggs, who signed his extension with the Dallas Cowboys last July going into his age-25 season, and more than t