Chiefs coach has pointed out the negative impact of losing…

The Kansas City Chiefs have completed their final session of May OTAs, but Dave Merrit has pointed out the negative impact of losing L’Jarius Sneed.

After winning their second consecutive championship and becoming the only team to accomplish it since the 2004 New England Patriots, the Chiefs were faced with a critical decision.

The issue had been brewing since the start of the 2023 season, when Chris Jones refused to play in the first game owing to a contract dispute.

Chiefs decide to keep Chris Jones despite Sneed being desperate to stay

Defensive cornerstone pieces L’Jarius Sneed and Jones were both looking at the prospect of entering free agency.

Due to limited cap space, the Kansas City Chiefs were forced to pick between the two players to sign long-term.

Sneed has been a lockdown corner who irritated many of the league’s top wide outs.

Ideally, General Manager Brett Veach would have signed both players, but the cap space did not allow for it.

In the end, their aim was evident when they presented Sneed with the non-exclusive franchise designation.

Meanwhile, Chris Jones received a five-year agreement, making him the highest-paid defensive tackle in NFL history.

Sneed was traded to the Tennessee Titans and received his first big paycheque

Sneed was dealt to the Tennessee Titans in exchange for two 2024 seventh-round picks and a third-round pick in 2025.

It was a sad occasion for Sneed, who had hoped to complete a three-peat with the Chiefs in 2024 while also receiving the salary he deserved.

However, the Chiefs must now fill the vacuum left by the 27-year-old in the secondary.

Dave Merritt, Chiefs defensive backfield coach, emphasized the difficulty in finding a substitute for Sneed.

Dave Merritt makes a bold comparison between Sneed and Michael Jordan

Furthermore, during his OTA media conference, Merritt equated the departure of Sneed to the search for a successor to basketball superstar Michael Jordan.

“It’s like trying to replace Michael Jordan, but I’m not comparing him to Michael Jordan, but to LJ Sneed’s skill set…” “The ability to lock down a hard-to-replace wide receiver,” Merrit told the media.

Sneed may not have had the same impact on basketball as Jordan, but the similarities underscore how important the former Chief was to the team’s system and success.

The Chiefs may look on 2023 First-Team All-Pro Trent McDuffie to take the next step as their starting cornerback.

Steve Spagnuolo will have to use his defensive acumen to devise an offseason strategy to mitigate the impact of Sneed’s departure.

Ultimately, the top teams will always find a way to adapt, and the Chiefs will have to adjust to life without their starting cornerback.