Detroit, Michigan – After much speculation and anticipation among Detroit Lions fans on potential moves to acquire a top-tier cornerback, their hopes were dashed when the Tennessee Titans swooped in to trade for Kansas City Chiefs cornerback L’Jarius Sneed. The Lions were rumored to be making a push for Sneed, but that dream was shattered late Friday night when the Titans reached an agreement with the Chiefs for the trade.
According to reports from ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Titans are sending a 2025 third-round pick to the Chiefs and swapping 2024 seventh-round picks as part of the deal for Sneed. Additionally, the Titans have agreed to a lucrative four-year, $76 million contract extension with $55 million guaranteed, making it a significant investment for the team.
Despite the trade terms being less than initial projections, with a third-round pick involved instead of a second-round pick, Sneed’s contract still stands out with an average of $19 million per year. This places him tied for sixth in terms of average annual value among NFL cornerbacks, but first in overall guarantees. Comparatively, Chicago Bears’ Jaylon Johnson signed a similar deal this offseason, but with lesser guaranteed money.
As for the Detroit Lions, they opted for more modest moves to address their cornerback situation. They acquired Buccaneers cornerback Carlton Davis in a trade involving a third-round pick and some late-round picks. The Lions inherited Davis’ one-year, $14.5 million contract, which has since been restructured to provide cap relief in 2024.
In addition to the trade for Davis, the Lions also signed free agent Amik Robertson and re-signed Emmanuel Moseley. However, they may still be in the market for further additions to their cornerback room following the sudden release of Cameron Sutton due to an alleged domestic battery incident.
Overall, while the Lions missed out on the opportunity to acquire Sneed, they have made strategic moves to solidify their cornerback depth and address the needs of their defense as they prepare for the upcoming season.