Cornerback L'Jarius Sneed is expensive, but worth it for Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals need to take an “L” in free agency.
No, not an “L” as in a “loss.” They need to take an “L” as in “L’Jarius Sneed,” the Kansas City cornerback who can shut down half the field as well as anybody in pro football.
Kansas City used the non-exclusive franchise tag on Sneed, meaning a team can poach him for the right price.
The first thing to consider is the contract. Sneed will demand about $20 million per year.
Players who’ve been designated with a franchise tag get paid an average of the top five players at their position or 120% of their current salary, whichever is greater.
Sneed made about $2.7 million last year, according to sportrac.com. The top five highest-paid corners average about $20 million.
The Cardinals have about $52 million to spend next season. Only seven other teams have more.
The non-exclusive designation means Kansas City would get two first-round draft picks as compensation for Sneed.
Draft picks are valuable, but we’ve seen too many first-round busts in this town to overinflate the importance of those balloons. (I really thought Isaiah Simmons was going to be good. And “Nkemdiche” is still a dirty word in Glendale.)
Plus, Cardinals General Manager Monti Ossenfort has stockpiled draft picks like they were toilet paper in a pandemic.
The next thing to consider is whether Sneed is worth it.
The statistics don’t really jump. He’s got 10 interceptions in four years, which is fine. But Sneed’s job was to cover an opponent’s best receiver. He shut down a who’s who of elite pass catchers: Justin Jefferson. Tyreek Hill. Davante Adams. Stefon Diggs.
Plus, Sneed is durable. He’s played at least 18 games each of the last three seasons, including the playoffs.
He’s also good for a few sacks if a defensive coordinator calls for a corner blitz. (We know Gamblin’ Jonathan Gannon has that play in his book.)
And if iron sharpens iron, then Sneed is a steal for how he’ll be able to help develop whatever receiver Arizona gets in the draft.
Remember how good Larry Fitzgerald and Patrick Peterson made each other?
Now apply that to Sneed and Marvin Harrison or Rome Odunze.
There will be some specifics to consider. Like which first-round picks Arizona would have to give up. (I wouldn’t let Kansas City have the No. 4 pick this year, for example.)
And there’s the possibility that a trade can be worked out that would include other players or picks. I’m not a general manager, so I don’t know everything that Ossenfort will have to consider.
But keep it simple: Is it worth trading two first-round picks for one of the best corners in the game? Yes, to me, it is.
And is Sneed worth $20 million? Yes, with the way he’s played for two Super Bowl champions, absolutely.
If I were advising Ossenfort, I’d encourage him to take an “L” in free agency so the Cardinals don’t have to take too many during the season.
Reach Moore at gmoore@azcentral.com or 602-444-2236. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @SayingMoore.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: L'Jarius Sneed? Arizona Cardinals should do whatever to add cornerback
