‘You would lose more’… Ex-Chiefs star says who is most valuable, Chris Jones or L’Jarius Sneed

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The Kansas City Chiefs could soon face the difficult choice of who to keep and who to let go on the defensive side.

Chris Jones and L’Jarius Sneed are due to become unrestricted free agents on March 13, and both will be looking for massive salary boosts.

Given the season each player just put forth, this dilemma could be like a Sophie’s Choice for the front office at the Kansas City Chiefs.

A former Chiefs center, though, believes that the choice is clear.

Joe Valerio’s views on Sneed and Jones

Joe Valerio played 62 NFL games on the offensive line, featuring with the Chiefs from 1991-95.

He had four receptions for seven yards in KC, with four touchdowns before being released by the club in August 1996.

Valerio joined the St. Louis Rams, appearing in just one game for them before retiring.

According to him, pass coverage is more critical than the pass rush.

“This is my own humble opinion. I felt like you would lose more if you lost L’Jarius than if we lost Chris. That’s just my opinion,” says Valerio.

“My thought is that the Chiefs, either in the draft or within free agency, could get somebody closer to Chris Jones.”

Jones and Sneed’s numbers this past season

Both Jones and Sneed put together exceptional 2023 campaigns.

Jones had 10.5 sacks in 2023, even with George Karlaftis for the most on the team, while leading KC in quarterback hits (29) and tackles for losses (13).

He’s been named a First-team All-Pro in each of the past two seasons.

Sneed has never made the Pro Bowl or been an All-Pro, but he still put together a spectacular year.

He had two interceptions in 2023 while defending 14 passes, twice as many as the next two closest Chiefs (Trent McDuffie and Justin Reid).

He allowed a mere 51.0 completion percentage to opposing quarterbacks in 2023 and did not concede a single TD pass until the Super Bowl.

What are the Chiefs options

While much of the talk has been about who you keep between Jones and Sneed, there is an attractive third option where everybody in KC wins.

The Chiefs can retain the services of Sneed and Jones in their quest for a three-peat.

To do that, they’ll probably have to cut some other players, which again goes back to who’s essential to their success?

There is also a chance the organization place the franchise tag on either player.

No matter how you look at it, there are big decisions and plenty of options.

Defensive tackle or cornerback

While Valerio acknowledges losing Jones will be a blow, he believes someone could step in and fill some of that void.

“I think marginally they could get more out of a younger defensive lineman to at least get close to Chris Jones than you could when you’re talking about the skill of a lockdown, physical corner like L’Jarius Sneed.”

Outside of Jones and Karlaftis, Charles Omenihu had seven sacks, Mike Danna registered 6.5, and another soon-to-be free agent, Drue Tranquill, had 4.5.