Chiefs Roster: Crew tenders their unique rights free brokers

On Monday, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs tendered minimal wage contracts to the next pending unique rights free brokers: offensive lineman Mike Caliendo, linebackers Cole Christiansen and Jack Cochrane, defensive finish Malik Herring and cornerback Nazeeh Johnson.

A lot of the strikes had been confirmed earlier within the day by friend-of-the-site Matt Derrick of Chiefs Digest.

Gamers turn out to be unique rights free brokers by having an active-roster contract expire earlier than accruing three seasons of service time (a mark that might see them qualify for restricted free company). A workforce can retain their companies by providing them a one-year, minimal wage contract. If tendered a contract provide, unique rights free brokers might not negotiate with different groups.

For every of those gamers, we assume the tendered quantity is $985,000, the 2024 minimal wage for gamers with two accrued seasons. The salaries are non-guaranteed, that means there are not any dead-money concerns if the gamers don’t make the squad.

Kansas Metropolis drafted Johnson within the seventh spherical (259th general) within the 2022 NFL Draft. He was waived out of coaching camp earlier than signing a brand new cope with the Chiefs just a few weeks later when he was promoted from the apply squad. As a result of Johnson’s authentic four-year rookie contract was nullified, he’s now topic to unique rights free company.

Johnson turned a core member of the Chiefs’ particular groups items all through his rookie season. He exceeded 50% of Kansas Metropolis’s particular groups snaps in all three 2022 playoff video games, together with their win in Tremendous Bowl LVII over the Philadelphia Eagles. Sadly, he suffered an ACL damage in coaching camp, costing him his second season.

Caliendo joined the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent out of Western Michigan in 2022. After spending his first season on Kansas Metropolis’s apply squad, he made the membership in 2023, ultimately changing into lively on recreation days as a backup because the Chiefs navigated offensive line accidents. With longtime backup inside lineman Nick Allegretti’s future with the Chiefs unsure, Caliendo might discover himself referred to as upon as an damage substitute within the coming season.

Christiansen — a former Military soccer participant — entered the league as an undrafted free agent with the Los Angeles Rams in 2020. The Chiefs promoted him from the apply squad in the course of the playoffs as an damage substitute. He performed 70% of the workforce’s particular groups snaps of their Tremendous Bowl LVIII victory over the San Francisco 49ers.

We had been not sure of Herring’s standing as a result of he spent his first season on Kansas Metropolis’s non-football damage record (NFI) after becoming a member of the workforce as an undrafted free agent in 2021. Though some websites listed him as a restricted free agent, we didn’t imagine he had accrued the required service time. We are able to now verify his standing as an ERFA. Herring has appeared in 14 video games for the Chiefs over the previous two seasons, and he appeared in all 4 2023 playoff video games. He has 1.5 profession sacks.

Derrick’s report didn’t handle Cochrane’s standing, resulting in some minor confusion about the place he stood with Kansas Metropolis. The South Dakota product signed with the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2022. He’s performed in 32 common season video games and 7 postseason contests. Cochrane has turn out to be one of many Chiefs’ most trusted particular groups gamers, a job he’ll try to construct upon in 2024.