The Indianapolis Colts had interest in trading for Kansas City Chiefs cornerback L’Jarius Sneed, but it wound up being the Tennessee Titans who pulled off a deal.
Late Friday night, it was reported that the Titans and Cheifs were finalizing a deal to send Sneed to Tennessee. The Chiefs received a 2025 third-round pick and a 2024 seventh while the Titans got Sneed and signed him to four-year deal.
Trade: Chiefs are finalizing a deal to send franchise CB L’Jarius Snead to the Titans, per league sources.
Chiefs are expected to receive a 2025 3rd-round pick, in addition to a 2024 7th-round pick flop, while Snead will sign a new contract. Trade is pending physical for Sneed. pic.twitter.com/GWjyKAgxZq
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 23, 2024
Sources: Here are the terms on L'Jarius Sneed’s new contract extension with the #Titans:
$19M APY over 4 years
$55M guaranteedMASSIVE 💼 https://t.co/swZliQ9vyk
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) March 23, 2024
The contract will pay Sneed $19 million per season on average and it includes $55 million guaranteed, which is likely why the Colts didn’t get a deal done.
What’s next for the Colts?
There are still a few options the Colts have to target in free agency. It’s likely necessary they add a veteran in free agency and the draft. The options in free agency include Steven Nelson, Stephon Gilmore, Ahkello Witherspoon and Patrick Peterson.
Those aren’t great options for the Colts, but they all could serve as stop gaps if the Colts focused the first round on adding a cornerback.
That brings us to the draft.
It seems very likely the Colts will focus their energy on the cornerback position in the first two rounds. Though they will want to take the best player available, it’s likely going to come down to a combination of need and BPA.
If prospects like Quinyon Mitchell and Terrion Arnold fall to the Colts at No. 15, it’s going to be difficult for them to overlook the opportunity to pair them with Julius Brents on the boundary.
They’ll have to weigh that against potentially adding an explosive option like Brian Thomas Jr. or Xavier Worthy, which will be a difficult decision.
The Colts missed out on adding a top talent like Sneed, but it probably was never going to happen once a bidding war took place. We know Chris Ballard doesn’t win those.
Now, the cornerback position is going to be a major focus of need going into the draft and the rest of the offseason.
