Titans need to beware of popular cornerback that's about to hit free agency
NASHVILLE — Whether it be through free agency or the draft, the Tennessee Titans are going to need to make some additions at cornerback this offseason. With Sean Murphy-Bunting and Kristian Fulton both hitting the open market, it makes sense that the Titans would target at least one perimeter cornerback in free agency. They could […]
NASHVILLE — Whether it be through free agency or the draft, the Tennessee Titans are going to need to make some additions at cornerback this offseason.
With Sean Murphy-Bunting and Kristian Fulton both hitting the open market, it makes sense that the Titans would target at least one perimeter cornerback in free agency. They could even make a play for one of the league's more prolific playmakers.
L'Jarius Sneed is a two-time Super Bowl champion from the Kansas City Chiefs that could fill the Titans needs, but buyer beware if you're paying Sneed this offseason.
Top of the market
My first issue with the Titans potentially signing Sneed in free agency is the price tag. It makes sense for Tennessee to pay a cornerback this offseason, but I'm not sure it makes sense to pay one at the very top of the market.
A to Z Sports projects Sneed to a get a four-year, $64 million contract with $35 million in total guarantees. That's more than every other free agent cornerback besides Jaylon Johnson, who is unlikely to even get to free agency.
If Johnson is franchise tagged or extended by the Chicago Bears, Sneed will likely be the top cornerback that remains an unrestricted free agent. It makes sense. He's a talented player that has proven he can make plays on the league's biggest stages.
But given the long list of needs the Titans need to fill – one or two cornerbacks, one or two wide receivers, one or two inside linebackers, at least one safety, and probably three offensive linemen – I think they're better off spreading the wealth a little bit.
$35 million guaranteed for one player may not be the best use of offseason resources. Especially when that player has a chronic knee issue that could be a ticking time bomb.
Chronic knee issues
On the surface, Sneed has been durable for the last three years in Kansas City. Since 2021, Sneed has missed just three games in total. That includes two games in 2021 after the death of his brother and one game in 2023.
Sneed sat out for the Chiefs in Week 18 of the 2023 season to get extra rest. The team had already clinched the No. 3 seed in the AFC playoff picture heading into the game.
Like I said, healthy on the surface. But Sneed was battling a knee injury throughout the entire 2023 season that gives me some concerns about paying him top dollar moving forward. Here's what Charles Goldman of A to Z Sports Kansas City says about Sneed's knee:
"Sneed suffered a knee injury during the postseason run in the 2022-23 NFL season ahead of the AFC Championship Game. It caused him to be limited in practice leading up to that game, but it didn't seem to impact him much more.
Upon returning in the 2023 NFL offseason, Sneed still dealt with knee swelling. He missed a dozen days of training camp and all three preseason games while nursing that lingering injury.
The team remained steadfast in their belief that Sneed would be ready to play by Week 1 ,and he was. He was also listed on the injury report with said knee injury until Week 8, with several limited and full participation days in practice, but no games missed. He reappeared on the injury report again after the bye week in Week 10 with that same knee injury. The second stay on the injury report lasted through Week 16, at which point Sneed suffered a calf injury and was listed as questionable for Week 17.
He sat out during the team's Week 18 tilt with the Chargers as the team was locked into their seeding. The calf injury didn't impact him in the playoffs, but he was listed on the report throughout. The knee injury didn't appear to limit him in any way during the regular season as evidenced by his performance, but it's certainly something that teams are going to want to check out.
There's a variety of issues that can cause swelling, but if this is a long-term issue, it could impact how much teams are willing to offer in free agency. All of that said, the Chiefs did a good job of managing the injury this year, so it's reasonable that other teams could do the same. Without the proper background on the injury, signing him could prove to be a gamble."
– via Charles Goldman of A to Z Sports Kansas City
If signing the top cornerback on the market was already a big risk, adding injury concern into the equation would make me lean away from Sneed if I were Titans GM Ran Carthon.
There's no debating that Sneed is a game changer. Whoever signs him could come away the big winners of the offseason for adding the missing piece to their defense, but this is a buyer beware situation for me. I'd look to Kendal Fuller or Chidobe Awuzie instead.
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