David Bell
Keeping L’Jarius Sneed (CB)
L’Jarius Sneed is the Chief’s Primary outside CB and is the defender most often assigned to cover the opposing team’s top WR. Sneed has been a fixture out wide in 2023 after lining up primarily in the slot over his first three seasons, and he’s held up quite well in several tough matchups. He can also defend against a slot WRs.
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Sneed did not allow a TD in 2023. Let me say that again: Sneed did not allow a TD in 2023.
Sneed has also had 3 QB Hits and 5 Tackles for a Loss in 2023 to go along with his two INTs.
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Joe Summers of KC Kingdom has published and article on Tuesday this week saying that, “L’Jarius Sneed’s Pro Bowl Snub Has Officially Been Fixed” and he says it was up to Peyton Manning, who will coach the AFC All-stars in the Pro Bowl:
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“Thanks to Peyton Manning, that atrocity is now
corrected. Manning is the AFC’s coach in the Pro
Bowl, and he announced Monday night he’s using
his one coach’s invite to give Sneed the honor
he deserves.”
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Here in K.C., Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo places a big demand on Sneed. I think he has proven himself to be one of the top CBs in the NFL. It’s true that Sneed has accumulated penalties as he sometimes is overly aggressive. However, most of those penalties were impressing on the receiver he was covering that he was going to dominate him. Some of Sneed covers were preventing a breakaway TD.
ProFootball Focus (PFF) uses James Bradberry in 2020, for a Free Agent comparison: see below.
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| Player | Coverage grade w/ no pressure | Cov. grade on throws in ≤ 3s | Forced incompletion rate | Single coverage grade | APY as % of Cap at signing |
| L’Jarius Sneed | 72.6 | 72.0 | 13.4% | 49.8 | ? |
| James Bradberry | 62.5 | 72.8 | 13.3% | 48.9 | 7.3% |
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PFF’s Contract Projection for L’Jarius Sneed: three years, $52.5 million ($17.5 million per year), $35 million total guaranteed. I am convinced that retaining Sneed is a “must do” for General Manager Brett Veach in the upcoming offseason. This is especially true in light of the view that Chris Jones will not be retained.
Is L’Jarius Sneed worth that? You be the judge. What do you think?
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David Bell — ArrowheadOne
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