After losing several outstanding players that were part of their roster in 2023, the Minnesota Vikings now have to deal with the fact that they might not be able to sign the best cornerback available this summer.
L’Jarius Sneed, a defensive back with the Kansas City Chiefs, was never able to leave the organization since his contract was extended through 2024 by the application of the franchise tag. But everyone in the league knew that Sneed might be acquired through a trade.
The Vikings expressed interest in the cornerback, but Minnesota’s dreams were dashed on Friday, March 22, when the Tennessee Titans and Kansas City reached an agreement for the cornerback to move to Nashville.
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
“Trade: According to league sources, the Chiefs are wrapping up an agreement to trade franchise wide receiver L’Jarius [Sneed] to the Titans,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter stated via X. The Chiefs are anticipated to ink a new contract with Sneed, and they will also receive a 2025 third-round pick and a 2024 seventh-round pick (exchange). Sneed’s trade is awaiting physical completion.
L’Jarius Sneed Would Have Been an Exceptional Fit for the Viking DefenseÂ
After just four years in the league, Sneed has already won two Super Bowls and participated in three. He just inked a four-year contract worth $76 million in Tennessee after the trade, demonstrating his superiority as one of the NFL’s top zone cornerbacks.
Despite the fact that Sneed has never been selected to an All-Pro team or even to a Pro Bowl, his club’s success and the murderer’s row of wide receivers he faced in the previous season make him an exceptional cornerback in the league.
Beyond that, Sneed would have been a fantastic fit for Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, who is coming back for 2024. Last season, Flores oversaw the NFL’s blitz-happy defense, employing inventive zone coverage schemes to counter that pressure throughout the campaign.
Therefore, the Vikings seemed like a reasonable bidder for Sneed, who is 27 years old. The Athletic’s Dianna Russini verified that Minnesota was considering the cornerback for some time, but they didn’t show the same level of interest as the Titans, who ended up selecting him.
Teams that poked around over the last few weeks on Sneed included the Vikings, Patriots, and Colts. The Titans stayed in contact with the Chiefs and found ways to get it done, including the new contract that is expected.
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) March 23, 2024
“The Vikings, Patriots, and Colts were among the teams that made appearances on Sneed in recent weeks,” Russini stated on Saturday.
This offseason, the Vikings should look to improve the cornerback position.
With Sneed no longer in the picture, the Vikings will have to refocus their efforts on improving the secondary through free agency or even the 2018 NFL draft.
Akayleb Evans and Byron Murphy Jr. are predicted to start as Minnesota’s cornerbacks for the upcoming campaign, per the team’s depth chart provided by ESPN. Evans was selected in the fourth round of the NFL Draft and is about to begin his third season as a professional, while Murphy struggled the previous year after agreeing to a two-year contract with the Vikings.
In terms of passing defense, Minnesota ranked 23rd out of 32 NFL teams in 2023. The loss of edge rusher Danielle Hunter in free agency is probably going to have a detrimental effect on the team’s capacity to put pressure on opposing passers. Therefore, it is imperative to recruit quality defensive backs. Regretfully, Sneed is no longer a possibility.
