Cleared of criminal charges, former Chiefs CB could help Commanders

The Commanders signed Amik Robertson early in free agency, and he'll start. Washington also signed veteran cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon. That's still not enough. The Commanders did not draft a cornerback, but there are still options remaining in free agency. Former Cowboys CB Trevon Diggs is often mentioned as a possibility because of his connection to head coach Dan Quinn. However, Diggs looked bad for the Cowboys last season before he was released, and for the Packers as well.

What about former Chiefs cornerback L'Jarius Sneed?

A fourth-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Sneed quickly developed into a starting cornerback for the Chiefs. Kansas City applied the franchise tag to Sneed in 2024, but instead of agreeing to a long-term deal, he was traded to the Tennessee Titans. Tennessee signed Sneed to a four-year, $76.4 million contract. It did not go well, as Sneed played only five games in 2024 and seven games in 2025. He was released last month.

While injuries ruined Sneed's time with the Titans, he was also battling an off-field problem. Sneed was charged with aggravated assault in December 2024, when his assistant was accused of shooting at a man outside of a car dealership. A grand jury later indicted Sneed with failure to report a felony, a lesser charge, but he was cleared of all charges on Tuesday.

With any potential off-field issues now gone, Sneed is free to sign with any team. The 6-foot-1, 192-pounder recorded 10 interceptions during his first four NFL seasons, adding two more in the playoffs, before his trade to Tennessee. Even when he was on the field for the Titans, he was not good.

Sneed could make the case that he wasn't the right fit in Tennessee's former defensive scheme. But when you're being paid as one of the NFL's top cornerbacks, there are no excuses. Any team signing Sneed would do so knowing there are no guarantees.

At this stage, giving Sneed a chance seems like a wise move for the Commanders. He will not cost much and has a lot to prove. A return to Kansas City would make plenty of sense for Sneed, but that's no guarantee either. How much does Sneed have left? Is he completely healthy? Can he thrive outside of Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo's scheme?

Those are all legitimate questions. But it's important to remember there are no perfect free agents available in May. Sometimes, you just need to take a risk.

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Former Chiefs CB could help fix major need