KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Coming out of Louisiana Tech, Chiefs fourth-round pick L'Jarius Sneed was listed as a "defensive back," a catch-all term that includes the safety and cornerback positions.
It made sense. Sneed had played both positions with the Bulldogs, but the Chiefs envisioned him as a long and speedy cornerback.
That sounds just fine with Sneed.
"That's where I started at," he said. "Wherever they put me, I was going to play though, and learn whatever I had to."
Sneed — who is 6 feet tall, weighs 192 pounds and ran a 4.37-second 40-yard dash — has all the measurables to play cornerback in the NFL.
He'll also get tested on whether those traits translate to the field right away going up against the Chiefs' Tyreek Hill and Mecole Hardman, who ran 4.29 and 4.33 40-yard times, respectively.
"I feel like they're going to prepare me for anybody in the league," Sneed said. "I feel like they're two of the best wide receivers in the NFL."
Things start to pick up for the rookies this week as veterans are scheduled to join them Friday for the first official training camp practices.
Despite missing the usual offseason on-field work — rookie mini-camp and organized team activities — Sneed doesn't feel like he's behind.
"We studied during the offseason," he said. "We had virtual meetings. Our coaches are doing a great job at teaching us. Us, as a rookie class, we're learning each and every day."
