As the NFL salary cap reaches unprecedented heights, there’s a hidden reason the Kansas City Chiefs are among the biggest beneficiaries of added spending flexibility this offseason.
No, the Chiefs aren’t dealing with the struggles of being over the cap as the Dallas Cowboys and other teams across the NFL are. However, general manager Brett Veach just might be able to fetch some significant draft capital Kansas City likely wouldn’t have been able to otherwise.
As ESPN’s Dan Graziano points out, the salary cap increasing to an unprecedented $255.4 million for 2024 buys Veach and the Kansas City Chiefs more time to potentially trade franchise-tagged cornerback L’Jarius Sneed.
“take the Kansas City Chiefs, who will be carrying a $19.802 million cap charge for cornerback L’Jarius Sneed as soon as the league year starts on March 13,” Graziano writes for ESPN. “Some around the league believe the Chiefs plan to trade Sneed to a team willing to give him the contract extension he seeks, and if that’s true, the higher cap number makes it easier for the Chiefs to carry Sneed into the new league year before ultimately trading him. They have to clear about $13 million less in cap space than they planned in order to fit Sneed under the number.”
Had the cap not increased, the Chiefs may have been forced to allow Sneed to walk via free agency and been left with a mere compensatory draft pick when he signed elsewhere.
Examining Kansas City Chiefs CB L’Jarius Sneed’s Trade Value
Sneed, an ascending talent at a premium position, will likely be the most coveted cornerback this offseason.
Instrumental to the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl run during the 2023 season, Sneed intercepted two passes to go with his 78 total tackles.
At least one defensive coach believes Sneed will have a robust trade market.
“Anytime a player is available with his man-cover skills,” an NFC Defensive Coach tells me. “Everyone is interested. Especially because even zone teams have man principles. He’s going to have a large market, but this is also a very strong cornerback class in the draft.”
Contending teams on the doorstep of a Super Bowl, but have a glaring need at cornerback, could wind up working the phones with Veach, to pry Sneed away from the Kansas City Chiefs in the coming weeks.
