Ever since Patrick Mahomes became the quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs in 2018 they have been one of the best teams in the NFL. That is no different this season, as the Chiefs are currently the only undefeated team at 6-0.
Mahomes and the Chiefs’ year-over-year dominance continues to be impressive, especially with how the roster changes yearly. In 2022, they traded away their best receiver, Tyreek Hill, because of contract disputes. Then proceeded to win back-to-back Super Bowls in 2023 and 2024.
While Hill has been one of the more notable players to leave Kansas City in recent memory and possibly regret that decision, there have been plenty of others. With that in mind, here are three players from the Chiefs 2023 roster who might regret leaving.
1. L’jarius Sneed
The Chiefs selected L’jarius Sneed with the 138th pick in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL draft. Throughout his four seasons with the team, Sneed had three forced fumbles,10 interceptions, 6.5 sacks and 303 tackles.
Looking more in-depth, according to PFF, Sneed allowed 210 catches on 321 targets, which is a 65.4% completion percentage against the Chiefs. Sneed’s only season with a completion
percentage allowed below 60% was last season, when he allowed 42 receptions on 80 targets.
After having a breakout season in 2023, Sneed was looking for a contract extension from the Chiefs in the offseason. Unfortunately, the two sides weren’t able to reach a deal, resulting in Sneed being traded to the Tennessee Titans.
Sneed then signed a four year $76.4 million contract with the Titans. Although Sneed has missed one game this season, he is playing like a lockdown corner. On 21 targets he’s only allowed nine receptions while gathering 23 tackles and two tackles for loss.
While Sneed is putting together a great season, the Titans are 1-6 and have no shot at making the playoffs. Although Sneed deserved his money, one could wonder if he wished he had taken a slight pay cut to stay with the Chiefs instead of going to a dumpster fire in Tennessee.
The Kansas City Chiefs and the Tennessee Titans seem to have strong and productive trade negotiations. This past summer, the teams finalized a deal that sent star cornerback L’jarius Sneed to the Titans for a 2025 third-round pick.
Then, on Wednesday the Chiefs acquired wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins from the Titans for a 2025 conditional fifth-round pick. Both trades immediately provided a boost to each franchises roster.
The Titans were in rebuild mode and needed a star defender in their secondary, which Sneed fulfills. Likewise, the Chiefs’ addition of Hopkins helps boost a severely injured receiving corps.
Before being traded on Wednesday, Hopkins and Sneed shared a locker room for seven months. Given the relationship the two may have formed in that time and the fact Sneed came from Kansas City, people may have expected theh to have a conversation about Hopkins new team before he left.
Well, during his first media availability following the trade, Hopkins stated, “We didn’t have many conversations” in regards to him and Sneed.
There could be a few explanations to why they did not have a conversation. It could be as simple as Hopkins just didn’t have the time to talk to Sneed before he left for the Chiefs.
Conversely, the lack of a conversation could indicate Sneed’s displeasure with the Chiefs’ organization. There’s every possibility that Sneed would have loved to stay in Kansas City but the Chiefs just weren’t able to give him the money he wanted.
At the end of the day. if Sneed does harbor ill will towards Kansas City it’s not a huge deal. All that matters is the Hopkins is able to help the Chiefs offense.
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