Detroit Lions fans are prowling the free agent cornerback market like vultures. The position is certainly one of the team’s most pressing needs, and with some free agency money to spend, it’s easy to imagine the Lions signing a young, good cornerback when free agency begins in two weeks.
However, reports from the NFL Combine suggest that two of the top options may never reach free agency in the first place. Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson and Chiefs defense L’Jarius Sneed are largely regarded as the top two prospects in this year’s class, but after the general managers of each team spoke on Tuesday, it appears that acquiring either of them will be tough, if not impossible.
Bears general manager Ryan Poles said he expects to reach an agreement with Johnson this offseason.
“Conversations are going well at this time,” Poles said. “We feel like we’ve done a pretty excellent job of coming to the table strong and offering him the respect he deserves based on his output throughout his career, with a focus on the turnovers he produced this year. Our anticipation is that this will continue while he is with the Bears.
Of course, that is only one side of the negotiations. It’s unclear how satisfied Johnson is with the current negotiations. When asked if the team was willing to utilize the franchise tag if they were unable to reach an agreement by the start of free agency, Poles indicated he preferred not to, but did not rule it out.
“I’d like to avoid the franchise tag for him,” Poland remarked. “I believe we have a strong opportunity to reach a compromise. Again, we always have the tag to use, but I really want to accomplish something long-term.”
If the Bears place the franchise tag on Johnson, he will have the ability to negotiate with other teams. If an outside team makes an offer to Johnson, the Bears will have the option of matching the offer or accepting two first-round picks from the offering team in return for Johnson’s signing.
It appears exceedingly unlikely that Detroit will not only spend a large amount of cap money but also give up two key draft picks for Johnson. And it’s reasonable to wonder if the Bears would even consider an intra-division move like that.
Which leads us to Sneed. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Chiefs are prepared to deploy the tag on Sneed while also being open to mediating a trade beyond that:
#Chiefs have informed L’Jarius Sneed they are prepared to use the franchise tag and are open to consummate a trade off it if no long-term deal is reached, per source.
Sneed is agreeable to the scenario, giving him chance to talk with other teams while K.C. remains in play pic.twitter.com/JayTzcAW0Y
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) February 27, 2024
At the Combine, Chiefs general manager Brett Veach stated that between Sneed and probable free agency defensive lineman Chris Jones, the team will most likely utilize the franchise tag.
“We do have one tag, and I anticipate probably using it to help us,” Veach went on to say. “But I think our goal is to try to get both of those players done and then work down the rest of our roster.”
So, once again, signing Sneed would require Detroit to pay heavily in salary cap space as well as draft capital.
Does that seem like something General Manager Brad Holmes would do? Based on almost everything he’s said this offseason, the answer is a resounding “No.” Here’s Holmes in a radio interview this week, when asked if the team will go after the “biggest fish” in free agency.
“It will be the same strategy that we have always taken, as I believe I stated in the previous press conference. It’s simple to win the headline, as well as the month of March. That’s simple to win, but, man, we’re trying to win December,” Holmes explained. “Those are two different perspectives, and that’s how you’ve got to plan and I think that’s how you’ve got to approach it.”
In other words, if your ideal situation is for the Lions to sign Sneed or Johnson this offseason, it may be wise to set lower expectations.
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