The Kansas City Chiefs are in prime position to make another splash at wide receiver, and one the Miami Dolphins want, following Friday’s trade of cornerback L’Jarius Sneed. The move opened up $19.8 million in cap space for the 2024 season.

The L’Jarius Sneed trade was rushed for a reason

Kansas City Chiefs, L’Jarius Sneed
Jan 21, 2024; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Kansas City Chiefs cornerback L’Jarius Sneed (38) against the Buffalo Bills in the 2024 AFC divisional round game at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The Chiefs aggressively tried to finalize the deal weeks before the draft. (The deal will not be technically finalized until Sneed passes a physical.) They took a deal for a third-round and seventh-round pick from the Tennessee Titans.

Reports surfaced this week the Chiefs were trying to receive a second-round pick for Sneed and probably would not have been able to fetch that price until closer to the draft when cornerback-needy teams discovered Sneed was their best option over the remaining rookies on the board.

The move this week indicated the Chiefs want their cap future cleared up as soon as possible so they can pursue the best free agents still on the market in a bid to help their threepeat chances.

The Kansas City Chiefs can target Odell Beckham Jr.

Baltimore Ravens, John Harbaugh, Odell Beckham Jr.
Dec 17, 2023; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (3) warms up before a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
As Matt Lombardo with GH notes, with nearly $20 million more to spend, the Chiefs could land a couple of players that would help in the secondary to replace Mike Edwards and Sneed or go with Odell Beckham Jr. on offense:

“Even after the Kansas City Chiefs signed Marquise “Hollywood Brown,” the wide receiving corps is far from a finished product.

While Beckham Jr. was not the same player in Baltimore that he proved to be as a key piece to the Los Angeles Rams Super Bowl run in 2021, he still has a big-play upside and would be two years removed from a torn ACL.

Last season, Beckham Jr. still averaged a whopping 16.1 yards per reception on his 35 catches for 565 yards and three touchdowns.”

OBJ is an intriguing option for a few reasons. Even though he had a mild 2023 season in Baltimore, he could be lethal with Patrick Mahomes and an improved wide receiver corps that includes Marquise Brown and Rashee RIce.

The Miami Dolphins started negotiating with OBJ

Baltimore Ravens, Odell Beckham Jr., NFL Free Agency
Dec 17, 2023; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (3) warms up before a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
The timing of the Sneed trade and OBJ’s availability are other key situations to watch in the next few days. OBJ visited the Dolphins this week. Per Barry Jackson with the Miami Herald, the Dolphins meeting with OBJ went so well that the team started negotiating financial terms with him. However, the Dolphins want to sign their WR3 on the cheap:

“The Dolphins’ meeting with three-time Pro Bowl receiver Odell Beckham Jr. went well on Thursday, according to a team source. The mutual interest remains strong. Miami remains interested in signing him.

The question is whether they can see eye to eye on what he should be paid. The sides have discussed financial terms but no agreement had been reached as of late afternoon Thursday.

Another prominent free agent receiver who spoke with the Dolphins said he was left with the impression that Miami doesn’t want to spend a lot at that position, even though one important person in the Dolphins hierarchy would like to add a highly skilled No. 3 receiver and loves Beckham.”

Is a bidding war comming between the Dolphins and Chiefs for OBJ?

Baltimore Ravens, Odell Beckham Jr., NFL Free Agency
Dec 17, 2023; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (3) warms up before a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
The Chiefs’ trade of Sneed should ignite a spark in the Dolphins’ front office to get something done ASAP if they’re serious about adding the two-time All-Pro to an offense that needed extra firepower in the playoffs this January.

The Chiefs and Dolphins appear to be rivals on the field and off by contending for similar offensive weapons. The Dolphins and Chiefs have had their eyes on likely first-round wide receiver Xavier Worthy. Now, they could be in a bidding war for OBJ.Ezoic

Regardless of whether the Dolphins or Chiefs sign OBJ, both teams should look to add to the position in the draft. Brown is on a one-year deal with the Chiefs to chase a ring. OBJ will likely be on a one-year deal wherever he goes. The Dolphins need to think about a backup plan at wide receiver if they cannot retain Jaylen Waddle.

With questions surrounding the competitive future of both teams next offseason, one would assume some aggressive moves will be made this week to try to land OBJ for the upcoming season.