The Steelers will do their best to find another cornerback this offseason to pair with Joey Porter Jr. in 2024. And Pro Football Focus already has a player in mind that they could pair with the promising rookie.
PFF named Pittsburgh a “landing spot” for upcoming free agent CB L’Jarius Sneed.
Sneed’s young NFL tenure with the Chiefs has seen him get better every year. Since being selected in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft, the 27-year-old has 303 tackles, 6.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, 10 interceptions, and 40 passes defensed.
Despite being one of the league’s more underappreciated cornerbacks, the Super Bowl LVII champion is still likely to earn a respectable salary.
Sneed is expected to get a four-year, $65.32 million contract this offseason, or $16.3 million a year, according to Spotrac.
Kansas City would surely love for Sneed to return to play for it in 2024 and beyond, but having one of the highest paid quarterbacks in the league in Patrick Mahomes always makes money much tighter.
However, after disappointing seasons from Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph, and Mitchell Trubisky, the Steelers are still looking for their franchise quarterback. This implies that they will probably have extra cash to spend, possibly on Sneed.
After being targeted all season, veteran cornerbacks Patrick Peterson and Levi Wallace might not even be in Pittsburgh in 2024. That would need the addition of another cornerback.
Sneed would provide the Steelers’ beloved physicality on defense. Tyreek Hill of Miami, one of the top wide receivers in the game, was expertly blocked by him earlier this season.
Porter Jr. typically shadowed opposing teams’ No. 1 wide receivers in 2023. But adding Sneed to the equation would allow each player to stay on their preferred side and lockdown whoever they come face-to-face with.
