L'Jarius Sneed Is Great, but Draft Picks Keep the Chiefs' Window Open

While there's obviously a great deal of emotion involved, sports are ultimately a business. And while those realities can sometimes feel a bit disparate—the aftermath of a big win or crushing loss, for example, is largely divorced from logic—there are times when those two collide. Take, for example, the Kansas City Chiefs' current offseason.

Although Super Bowl celebrations took place less than a month ago, the defending champs now have to take care of offseason business. Given the salary cap realities of the NFL, that means making some tough decisions to keep the ball rolling. Punter Tommy Townsend, for example, seems to be destined to leave town. And now ace cornerback L'Jarius Sneed seems like he could be following in his footsteps.

On Tuesday, we got an update about the defensive back's future, and it sounds as if there's a real possibility that he could find a new home before the 2024 campaign. And while that might sound jarring for Chiefs fans, General Manager Brett Veach has run this play before.

Let's break things down.

Sneed Could Be Traded, Even After a Franchise Tag

As we head into the offseason, the narrative has been that the Chiefs have to make a defensive choice. With Chris Jones and Sneed both reaching the end of their respective contracts, which one do you prioritize keeping around?

While a proper answer to that question has yet to arrive, we do have an early piece of the puzzle.

KC is "prepared to use the franchise tag and are open to consummate a trade off it if no long-term deal is reached," according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.

To be clear, that isn't groundbreaking information. Sneed always seemed the more likely franchise-tag candidate given the sizable cost of Jones' one-year tender.

And a trade, even if it wasn't explicitly called out before Tuesday, was part of the equation. NFL teams, after all, are loath to lose assets for nothing. If you're going to let Sneed walk as a free agent, there's no reason not to explore a trade and get something in return.

Draft Picks Keep the Window Open

The prospect of trading Sneed can be an emotionally complex thing. Maybe you're simply upset about the prospect of a draft pick who developed into an all-league player leaving town. Perhaps you're concerned about on-field matters and letting a lockdown corner capable of shadowing the opposition's top receiver join another team.

To be clear, those thought processes are valid. But, within this current Chiefs dynasty, draft picks have been a key part of keeping the window open.

When you have a massive amount of your salary cap tied up in a few players (primarily Patrick Mahomes but also Joe Thuney, Jawaan Taylor and Chris Jones, assuming he re-signs), compromises have to be made elsewhere. And given that rookies enter the year on affordable contracts, those younger players become essential.

Consider, for example, the last time the Chiefs made a notable trade and sent Tyreek Hill to Miami. While the wide receiver's cap hit was manageable in previous years, he'll now count as a minimum of $31 million toward the Dolphins' cap for the rest of his current contract.

KC, on the other side of the deal, used the draft picks they received to select Trent McDuffie and Skyy Moore. While the latter man never really clicked in the NFL, the former has become a key member of the club's secondary. If anything, his ability makes someone like Sneed expendable. And, perhaps more important, McDuffie and Moore combined will cost less than $6 million against the 2024 salary cap.

But, as they say in infomercials, that's not all. As Grant Gordon of NFL.com points out, the haul from trading Hill kept on giving.

"Through repackaging the picks, the Chiefs have, in total, drafted McDuffie, Moore, offensive lineman Darian Kinnard, wide receiver Rashee Rice, defensive tackle Keondre Coburn and a fifth-round pick in 2025," Gordon explained. And Rice, if he continues on the trajectory he established at the end of 2023, will be a key cog in KC's offense for years to come.

Assuming the draft picks hit, that's value for money.

For further proof of that reality, consider the Chiefs' 2024 salary cap. While the picture still has plenty of time to change, only seven players account for more than $10 million against the cap. Can you question the validity of that approach? Sure, but when Mahomes accounts for nearly $60 million in space (pending a restructure), compromises have to be made elsewhere.

And on the subject of draft picks, the Chiefs seem poised to position themselves for a solid return should Sneed move. A nonexclusive franchise tag means that a team wishing to poach the corner through an offer sheet would have to give up two first-round picks. While a trade is more likely, those two firsts can provide something of a reference point, allowing KC to provide a discount while still getting a respectable return.

From an emotional perspective, that sort of calculus isn't the happiest. Fans get attached to players over time, and it's impossible to have that same bond with draft picks. And, by the same token, no one is going to get too fired up about salary cap until there's a problem. When was the last time you saw a stadium full of fans cheering for responsible financial management?

Ultimately, though, putting the team in a good long-term position is what matters. And if the Chiefs continue to pile up silverware, then everyone can accept some painful offseason decisions.