We assume that the tendered amount for each of these players is $985,000, which is the minimum salary for players with two accrued seasons in 2024. There are no dead money implications if the players are not selected for the team because the salaries are not guaranteed.
Kansas City drafted Johnson in the seventh round (259th overall) in the 2022 NFL Draft. He was waived out of training camp before signing a new deal with the Chiefs a few weeks later when he was promoted from the practice squad. Because Johnson’s original four-year rookie contract was nullified, he is now subject to exclusive rights free agency.
Throughout his rookie campaign, Johnson established himself as a vital component of the Chiefs’ special teams groups. In all three of Kansas City’s 2022 postseason games—including their victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII—he accounted for more than 50% of the team’s special teams snaps. Regrettably, he lost his second season due to an ACL injury sustained during training camp.
Caliendo, a Western Michigan native, signed with the Chiefs in 2022 as an undrafted free agent. He joined Kansas City’s practice squad in 2023 after serving as a backup during his first season there. As the Chiefs dealt with injuries to their offensive line, he eventually became an active player on game days. Given the uncertainty surrounding the future of veteran backup interior lineman Nick Allegretti with the Chiefs, Caliendo may be needed as an injury replacement in
