After a tough 2025 season that ended with a 6-11 record, the Kansas City Chiefs are undergoing a major roster reset. While both sides of the ball have seen significant departures, the defensive back corps has been hit especially hard. The team traded cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams, then watched safety Bryan Cook sign with the Cincinnati Bengals and Jaylen Watson depart for the Rams in free agency.
The front office has attempted to soften the blow by signing former Baltimore Ravens safety Alohi Gilman and former Miami Dolphins cornerback Kader Kohou. Yet these additions have not fully offset the losses. With free agency having opened on March 11 and options now beginning to dwindle, the Chiefs are looking for proven reinforcements.
Enter a familiar face who knows exactly what it takes to win in Kansas City.
Vinnie Iyer of The Sporting News predicts that the Chiefs will reunite with cornerback L’Jarius Sneed. The 29-year-old spent four productive years in Kansas City before being traded to the Tennessee Titans in 2024. After landing in Tennessee, Sneed signed a four-year, $76.4 million contract that was set to run through the 2027 season. However, after just two seasons with the Titans, he was officially released and is now free to sign with any team.
A season-ending quad injury limited Sneed to only seven games in 2025. When healthy, he struggled, allowing 19 completions for 257 yards, three touchdowns, and a 120 passer rating on 31 targets. Pro Football Focus gave him an overall grade of 50.4, ranking him 104th out of 114 qualifying cornerbacks.
Yet the numbers only tell part of the story. Sneed’s best football came wearing Chiefs red. Over four seasons in Kansas City he recorded 303 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 40 pass deflections, and 10 interceptions. He started both of the franchise’s back-to-back Super Bowl victories in the 2022 and 2023 seasons, proving himself as a reliable piece of a championship secondary.
The potential reunion carries clear mutual benefits. For Sneed, returning to defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s scheme offers a chance to rediscover the form that made him one of the league’s most productive young corners. For the Chiefs, adding a two-time Super Bowl champion who already understands the system, the culture, and the expectations that come with playing alongside Patrick Mahomes could provide the exact veteran presence the secondary desperately needs.
As the offseason continues and the roster continues to evolve, this predicted homecoming would represent more than just a signing—it would signal a deliberate move to restore the championship pedigree that defined the franchise’s recent dynasty. If the deal materializes, L’Jarius Sneed would be running it back where he belongs: in Kansas City, chasing another ring with Mahomes.
