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 organisation 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 Tennessee Titans struck an agreement with Kansas City on Friday, March 22, to bring the cornerback to Nashville, dashed Minnesota’s chances of signing the player.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter stated via X, “Trade: Chiefs are finalising a deal to send franchise CB L’Jarius [Sneed] to the Titans, per league sources.” “Sneed will sign a new contract, and the Chiefs are expected to receive a 2025 third-round pick in addition to a 2024 seventh-round pick [swap].” For Sneed, the trade is awaiting physical.
L’Jarius Sneed Would Have Fit Perfectly on Vikings’ Defense
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 defence, 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.
“The Vikings, Patriots, and Colts were among the teams that made appearances on Sneed in recent weeks,” Russini stated on Saturday.
Vikings Should Try to Upgrade Cornerback Position This Offseason
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 defence, 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.
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