Heading into the offseason, the Kansas City Chiefs were widely expected by most fans and media members to use their franchise tag to keep superstar defensive tackle Chris Jones in Kansas City for another season. But in a pretty shocking turn of events, it sounds like the Chiefs are actually using their franchise tag on a different player, instead.
According to a report from NFL insider Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, the Kansas City Chiefs have decided to use their franchise tag on star cornerback L’Jarius Sneed instead of defensive tackle Chris Jones.
“#Chiefs have informed L’Jarius Sneed they are prepared to use the franchise tag and are open to consummate a trade off it if no long-term deal is reached, per source. Sneed is agreeable to the scenario, giving him chance to talk with other teams while K.C. remains in play,” Fowler said in a post on X, the social media website that was formerly known as Twitter.
#Chiefs have informed L’Jarius Sneed they are prepared to use the franchise tag and are open to consummate a trade off it if no long-term deal is reached, per source.
Sneed is agreeable to the scenario, giving him chance to talk with other teams while K.C. remains in play pic.twitter.com/JayTzcAW0Y
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) February 27, 2024
Obviously, this news came as a shock to many in the NFL world who expected Jones to be the one to get the franchise tag, and it led to a lot of reactions on social media as a result.
Oh my.
They can’t lose both Sneed and Jones so if tag and trade is on the table already with Sneed….? https://t.co/hxVkXrDblX
— Conner Christopherson (@Conner_DKC) February 27, 2024
The trade portion of this is interesting.
I’d imagine they’d only move off of him if they got a great deal and Chris Jones was back in KC. https://t.co/i7rckHNDOW
— Zack Eisen (@zackeisen21) February 27, 2024
This takes up a lot of their current cap. Chris Jones welcome to Chicago https://t.co/skwXWLtJ6X pic.twitter.com/4mT6cirXXJ
— Albaro (@martinez3507) February 27, 2024
Interesting, figured Chris Jones even at his crazy number could be the tag candidate. Makes me think there may be some progress there on extension talks.
Think it’s fair of Chiefs to want more than a comp pick for what probably would’ve been the top FA CB by far https://t.co/AZnriJQt3d
— Brad Spielberger, Esq. (@SpielbergerBrad) February 27, 2024
Chris Jones extension incoming…?
If not, and Sneed is tagged, Jones will easily land the biggest non-QB deal among all UFAs. https://t.co/WyGQImLbkO
— Andre Perrotta (@andreperrotta13) February 27, 2024
CHRIS JONES IS A COWBOY https://t.co/zHOg04Ln48
— x – alex (@DakHOF) February 27, 2024
Imagine a trade would be dependent on signing CJ and likely trying for a player + pick vs picks only. Pick up someone else’s bad contract or disgruntled player. https://t.co/hr87nA2SLD
— Nolan King (@NolanKing) February 27, 2024
Obviously, the Chiefs will still have a chance to give Jones a contract extension this offseason, and this news could mean the two sides are close to a deal. But it’s still a pretty shocking turn of events.
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