Ever since Patrick Mahomes became the quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs in 2018 they have been one of the best teams in the NFL. That is no different this season, as the Chiefs are currently the only undefeated team at 6-0.
Mahomes and the Chiefs’ year-over-year dominance continues to be impressive, especially with how the roster changes yearly. In 2022, they traded away their best receiver, Tyreek Hill, because of contract disputes. Then proceeded to win back-to-back Super Bowls in 2023 and 2024.
While Hill has been one of the more notable players to leave Kansas City in recent memory and possibly regret that decision, there have been plenty of others. With that in mind, here are three players from the Chiefs 2023 roster who might regret leaving.
1. L’jarius Sneed
The Chiefs selected L’jarius Sneed with the 138th pick in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL draft. Throughout his four seasons with the team, Sneed had three forced fumbles,10 interceptions, 6.5 sacks and 303 tackles.
Looking more in-depth, according to PFF, Sneed allowed 210 catches on 321 targets, which is a 65.4% completion percentage against the Chiefs. Sneed’s only season with a completion
percentage allowed below 60% was last season, when he allowed 42 receptions on 80 targets.
After having a breakout season in 2023, Sneed was looking for a contract extension from the Chiefs in the offseason. Unfortunately, the two sides weren’t able to reach a deal, resulting in Sneed being traded to the Tennessee Titans.
Sneed then signed a four year $76.4 million contract with the Titans. Although Sneed has missed one game this season, he is playing like a lockdown corner. On 21 targets he’s only allowed nine receptions while gathering 23 tackles and two tackles for loss.
While Sneed is putting together a great season, the Titans are 1-6 and have no shot at making the playoffs. Although Sneed deserved his money, one could wonder if he wished he had taken a slight pay cut to stay with the Chiefs instead of going to a dumpster fire in Tennessee.
2. Willie Gay Jr.
Like Sneed, the Chiefs selected Willie Gay Jr. in the 2020 NFL draft. Gay, however, was selected with the 63rd pick in the second round. In his four seasons with the Chiefs, Gay had 233 tackles, five sacks, three forced fumbles and four interceptions.
Gay’s best season was the 2022 season when he gathered 88 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and one interception. That campaign, Gay earned his best grades in pass rush (75.0) and pass coverage (73.2) from PFF.
While Gay wasn’t the most complete linebacker, he and fellow linebacker Nick Bolton were a great tandem. Despite that, the Chiefs decided to move on from Gay in favor of 2022 third-round draft pick Leo Chenal.
Gay signed a one-year $3 million contract with the New Orleans Saints this offseason. So far this season, Gay has 18 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries. While those aren’t spectacular numbers, Gay has at least cleaned up his tackling, only logging two missed tackles during the season.
Though Gay wouldn’t have kept his starting spot in Kansas City if he stayed, being a backup for the best team in the NFL isn’t a bad gig. Especially after how fast the Saints’ season flipped due to injuries after starting 2-0.
If Gay had stayed with the Chiefs as a backup he might be on his way to a fourth Super Bowl. Instead, like Sneed, Gay is on a team that isn’t likely to make the playoffs.
3. Marquez Valdes-Scantling
The Chiefs signed Marquez Valdes-Scantling to a three-year $30 million deal before the 2022 season. Valdes-Scantling is a speedy deep threat that was brought in to help Mahomes stretch the field again. In two seasons with the Chiefs, Valdes-Scantling had 63 receptions on 123 targets for 1,002 yards, three touchdowns and averaged 8.1 yards per catch.
The biggest flaw in Valdes-Scantling’s game is his inconsistent hands. As his stats indicate, that was seen plenty in his time in Kansas City.
One of the more notable instances of Valdes-Scantling dropping the ball was in the fourth quarter of a Week 11 game against the Eagles in 2023. The reason this drop sticks out is because it could have won the Chiefs in the game.
It is crazy how many people wrote off MVS after this drop against the Eagles. And then fast-forward to the AFC Championship game, Patrick Mahomes gave him another chance to redeem himself with the game on the line, and he did! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/gNOMKORgr2
— Brad Henson Productions (@BradHensonPro) January 31, 2024
Valdes-Scantling’s drop issues more than likely played a factor in the Chiefs releasing him after they won Super Bowl 58.
Following his release from the Chiefs, Valdes-Scantling signed a one-year deal with the AFC rival Buffalo Bills.
In six games with the Bills, Valdes-Scantling had two receptions on nine targets for 26 yards and a touchdown. That output explains why the Bills released him after they acquired Amari Cooper via a trade with the Cleveland Browns.
Valdes-Scantling has signed a deal with the New Orleans Saints, reuniting with former teammate Willie Gay, but has yet to play a game. It says a lot that the Chiefs didn’t make a push for Valdes-Scantling, given how injured their wide receiving room is.
It would be a safe bet to assume that if Valdes-Scantling was offered a deal by the Chiefs he would have came back.
