Brett Veach prioritizing re-signing Chris Jones, L'Jarius Sneed

[RunKC]

What some of us have been wondering...

HENDERSON, Nev. -- Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said he is aware of the challenge the organization faces in re-signing both defensive tackle Chris Jones and cornerback L'Jarius Sneed but said it would be an offseason priority to get both players under new contracts.

"Sometimes I look at our situation and I'm like, 'I don't know how we're going to do this,' but we usually work through things systematically and have a list of the priorities,'' Veach said as the Chiefs continued preparations for Super Bowl LVIII against the San Francisco 49ers. "Certainly, Chris and LJ are at the top of the list.

"It's extremely hard because you have two keystone players there.''

Jones, 29, has been one of the NFL's top pass-rushers for years. He had 10.5 sacks this season to tie for the team lead after missing training camp and the first regular-season game while holding out for a new contract.

He didn't get the extension he was looking for, but the Chiefs sweetened the final season of his existing contract.

"It was important for us to mend the fences with Chris because we love him and he's an iconic player here, not just here, but I mean of all time,'' Veach said. "That was important for us, and we'll continue to work hard and see if we can get something done, but it will be a priority for us.''

The Chiefs used Sneed, 27, this season to defend against the opponent's top receiver much of the time, and none had big games against him.

Jones and Sneed are key players for an improved Chiefs defense that allowed fewer points than all but one other team during the regular season and held the Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens to 41 total points in the playoffs.

The Chiefs had defenses that were at times competitive since Patrick Mahomes became their starting quarterback in 2018, but rarely were they consistently so. Veach and the Chiefs found the task of building a top defense difficult because the past few seasons they were carrying Mahomes' massive contract.

"I still remember in '17 and '18 just saying if we can just get them to punt just once we've got a shot,'' Veach said. "Now all of a sudden it's like all we've got to do is just score once and we're good.

"Going from where we were in '17 and '18 to having one of the best defenses, knowing the constraints we had of just paying [Mahomes] and probably drafting later [in rounds], I don't think I ever envisioned having a top one or two defense.''

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/...-ljarius-sneed

[BossChief]

Originally Posted by crispystl

Dude if someone offers 2 first rounders for Sneed, I'm taking that shit all day long.
Could you imagine how far that would go to improving the offense?

We aren’t getting 2 firsts for Sneed.

I do think we will get more than some may thing for him, but not 2 firsts.

If we trade him, I can see us getting a first rounder in the early 20s -OR- a 2nd AND 3rd in this draft -OR- a 2 in this draft AND a 2 in next years draft.

With a likelihood of also adding sone 6ths and 7ths in as sweeteners.

[BossChief]

I wonder if Detroit would make a player for player trade even up LJ for Jameson.

I probably value Jameson higher than most here and would make that trade…but I bet most here would be opposed to it.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by BossChief

I wonder if Detroit would make a player for player trade even up LJ for Jameson.

I probably value Jameson higher than most here and would make that trade…but I bet most here would be opposed to it.

He's burned two years of his rookie deal already with little/no forward progress to show for it.

He might be worth a late 2nd on the open market but more realistically they'd probably have to move him for a 3. I don't think that's enough for Sneed. I'd rather have Sneed and the tag figure than Williams and the cap space.

It's closer than one would think on first blush, but that's just not enough. Make it Sneed for Williams and a 3rd (since they'll have a late 3rd rounder) and we'll talk. But anything less than that is an overpay, IMO.

[DRM08]

Salary cap is going up $18-20 million for 2024. Maybe they can keep Chris Jones & LJ Sneed.

[TribalElder]

Bert get any of that prioritizing finished up yet

[RINGLEADER]

Originally Posted by DRM08

Salary cap is going up $25 million for 2024. Maybe they can keep Chris Jones & LJ Sneed.

Chiefs can do it easy if they want, but we have a lot of other key pieces who will be looking for deals in the next year or two. My argument has been how often do you even have the chance to keep a team like this together so I’m all for going all-in, but it’s easy to understand the alt approach too.

If you can get Jones to take a three year deal with a bonus that is spread across five years you could get him at cap hits of $20M-$25M a season but when the bill comes due in 2027 (along with Mahomes $60M-$70M hit after restructuring) we’d have a third of our cap paying for Mahomes/Jones/Dead Money.

That said, I would try to keep the band together a couple more seasons.

[BossChief]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

He's burned two years of his rookie deal already with little/no forward progress to show for it.

He might be worth a late 2nd on the open market but more realistically they'd probably have to move him for a 3. I don't think that's enough for Sneed. I'd rather have Sneed and the tag figure than Williams and the cap space.

It's closer than one would think on first blush, but that's just not enough. Make it Sneed for Williams and a 3rd (since they'll have a late 3rd rounder) and we'll talk. But anything less than that is an overpay, IMO.

You’re probably right. I’ve been a big fan of Jameson since before his respective draft and think his hot nasty speed and playmaking ability would open up a lot for this offense opposite Rice. Him being cost controlled for 3 years is also a big factor into this hypothetical proposal.

You could make a trade like that and still select a WR in the first 2-3 rounds and completely transform the WR group enough to let Pat go hunting again.

[O.city]

The cap going up helps, but that also increases player asking price.

That CB that was a 15 million dollar a year guy is now gonna be an 18 etc.

[philfree]

Originally Posted by DRM08

Salary cap is going up $18-20 million for 2024. Maybe they can keep Chris Jones & LJ Sneed.

It's going up that much or more every year for the foreseeable future. 17 game season and expanded playoffs, record viewership and the success of the games abroad the cap is going to skyrocket.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Originally Posted by BossChief

I wonder if Detroit would make a player for player trade even up LJ for Jameson.

I probably value Jameson higher than most here and would make that trade…but I bet most here would be opposed to it.

24-354-2 TDs Jameson Williams? For Sneed? What in the actual ****?

[pugsnotdrugs19]

I think you listen to what teams would offer for Sneed, but it’s not something you just do for any set of picks offered

I need at least a top-40 selection to consider it. And if it’s like pick 40, I need another pick too in round 3-4.

[Sassy Squatch]

I see we're in full off season mode.

[Bl00dyBizkitz]

Originally Posted by Sassy Squatch

I see we're in full off season mode.

Not quite. We need to fire up the lawn care thread and what your top 5 craft beer rankings are before it's truly the offseason.

[Hoover]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

24-354-2 TDs Jameson Williams? For Sneed? What in the actual ****?

Exactly.

I like the kid, and wouldn't mind adding him to this offense, but I'd want the Lions 29th pick and Williams for Sneed and a 4th.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by O.city

The cap going up helps, but that also increases player asking price.

That CB that was a 15 million dollar a year guy is now gonna be an 18 etc.

Doesn't meaningfully change what he'll make under 2 cap tags, though.