L’Jarius Sneed returns to Kansas City following a turbulent stint in Tennessee. The veteran cornerback seeks a homecoming to bolster a depleted secondary and revive his championship form.
The Kansas City Chiefs will have a familiar face coming to town on Thursday as free agent cornerback L’Jarius Sneed visits the Chiefs in the hopes of securing a contract for the 2026 season.
Sneed previously spent four years in Kansas City after being selected in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft. In his limited time, Sneed recorded 10 interceptions, 40 passes defended, four forced fumbles, and 303 tackles. Of course, the former Louisiana Tech star also won two Super Bowls during his tenure with the Chiefs.
After his four seasons, the Chiefs faced a decision about whether they were willing to commit to Sneed and an expectedly lofty contract. They ultimately decided against it, instead choosing to trade him to the Tennessee Titans in exchange for a third-round pick in 2025 and a swap of seventh-round picks in 2024.
The Chiefs went on to select defensive edge Ashton Gillotte with the acquired third-rounder from the Titans in the 2025 Draft. During his rookie season, Gillote recorded 38 tackles, 1.5 sacks, eight quarterback hits, and one interception.
Sneed and the Titans agreed to a four-year, $76 million extension after the trade – one that would ultimately backfire for the franchise. Sneed played just five games for the Titans in 2024 and seven in 2025 due to injuries.
Earlier this offseason, in March, the Titans decided to cut their losses and release Sneed two years prematurely. Now, the 29-year-old is in search of a fresh start as he rehabs from surgery on his quad.
That search has brought him back to where it all began – Kansas City. It’s where he had the most success of his career, both individually and as a team, and solidified himself as one of the better cornerbacks in football, which helped earn him that significant 2024 extension.
The Chiefs could certainly use the return of Sneed if he can get back to the level of a productive player again after the losses they’ve endured this offseason. Kansas City traded away Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams and lost Jaylen Watson to the Rams via free agency.
With their two-star cornerbacks now gone, the Chiefs need to get that production from somewhere else. His injury troubles since leaving the Chiefs are a huge concern, but a Sneed-Chiefs reunion could be a high-reward move that addresses a big need the team has.
Perhaps a return to where it all started can be enough for Sneed to return to the player he once was as the Chiefs look to return to the playoffs next winter. His visit to Kansas City on Thursday is something to keep an eye on as the days progress.
