Chiefs plan on franchise tagging L’Jarius Sneed unless long-term deal is

INDIANAPOLIS — Their first roster move this offseason, as back-to-back champions, is to use perhaps the most unpopular mechanism in the NFL’s collective-bargaining agreement: the franchise tag.

The Kansas City Chiefs have informed cornerback L’Jarius Sneed, one of the team’s best defenders, that they will use their franchise tag on him if they are unable to come to an agreement on a long-term deal, according to league sources. The expected move will prevent Sneed from becoming a first-time unrestricted free agent, the opportunity for him to see what is his maximum earning potential as a 27-year-old cornerback who last season was the leading force for the Chiefs’ impressive secondary.

Sneed knows he’s the Chiefs’ most fascinating potential free agent. A former fourth-round pick, Sneed had the best season of his career. In the regular season, he finished with two interceptions, 14 pass breakups and didn’t allow a touchdown while in coverage. The Chiefs also know Sneed will be easier to retain — or trade away — by using the franchise tag on him rather than pass rusher Chris Jones, the team’s best defender.

“It’s certainly something that’s a possibility,” general manager Brett Veach said Tuesday at the NFL combine. “Chris Jones’ tag is enormous. We’ll work through that and we’ll try to see if we can get both these guys done.”

When the Chiefs place the franchise tag on Sneed, before the 3 p.m. CT March 5 deadline, he will be set to play the 2024 season on a one-year salary of $19.8 million — unless he and the team agree to an extension before the league’s July deadline for franchise-tagged players. The team could also trade Sneed ahead of the draft.

Veach and Chris Shea, the Chiefs’ vice president of football operations, met in person Tuesday afternoon with Sneed’s agent, Michael Huyghue.

Sneed has expressed several times in the past two years his desire to continue playing for the Chiefs. He wants a three- or four-year contract, according to a league source. If no deal is reached before the draft, the team is comfortable with consummating a trade, according to league sources. The Chiefs will also allow Sneed to communicate with teams interested in acquiring him. If Sneed is traded, he would expect to sign a multiyear deal with his new team.

Earlier this month, after the Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII, Sneed appeared on “Up & Adams” with host Kay Adams, voicing a clear message for Veach.

“Man, pay me,” Sneed said, smiling, doing his best Rod Tidwell impression from the movie “Jerry Maguire.” Sneed repeated himself: “Pay me! Pay! Me!”

“Pay me. Pay. Me.”

L’Jarius Sneed’s message to Chiefs GM Brett Veach ????@jay__sneed @heykayadams pic.twitter.com/gO6h5tP6eH

— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) February 15, 2024

In 2019, the Chiefs placed the franchise tag on outside linebacker Dee Ford, then traded him to the 49ers for a second-round pick. Once he arrived in…