The Chiefs of Kansas City Sign ERFAs DB Mike Caliendo, OL, and Nazeeh Johnson
Defensive back Nazeeh Johnson and offensive lineman Mike Caliendo are two versatile exclusive rights free agents who the Kansas City Chiefs are signing back.
On Tuesday, the Kansas City Chiefs announced the signing of two exclusive rights free agents: Mike Caliendo, an offensive lineman, and defensive back Nazeeh Johnson.
Johnson joined the team in the NFL Draft of 2022 as a seventh-round selection out of Marshall. He played special teams in 11 regular-season games and all three Chiefs postseason games, including Super Bowl LVII, during his first campaign.
Chiefs of Kansas City Sign ERFAs DB Mike Caliendo, OL, and Nazeeh Johnson
Defensive back Nazeeh Johnson and offensive lineman Mike Caliendo are two versatile exclusive rights free agents who the Kansas City Chiefs are signing back.
Prior to rupturing his ACL in training camp for the 2023 season, Johnson was getting defensive reps. This injury kept him out of the game the whole season. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo stated following Johnson’s injury that he had observed promising signs from Johnson during his second camp.
“Seeing that happen [to] Nazeeh makes me really sad,” Spagnuolo remarked. “He was actually ascending. He was taking reps with the first group because he had earned it, if you guys noticed. He possesses a strong set of cornerback skills. He played safety in college, so maybe, you know, we’ll hope for his rapid recovery and return.”
With Johnson hurt, head coach Andy Reid repeated a similar sentiment.
Reid said, “Yeah, Nazeeh was playing good football.” He’s a solid corner and a terrific player on special teams, but we have other people who can play there as well. He has come a long way over the years. It’s unfortunate that it took place. He will return, and he is approaching it with a positive attitude when he is able to return.”
Caliendo signed with the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent after the 2022 NFL Draft and spent 2022 on the team’s practice squad. Caliendo appeared in eight games for the Chiefs in 2023, taking 64 offensive snaps and 36 special teams snaps, with seven of the offensive snaps coming late in KC’s blowout win over the Chicago Bears in Week 3 and the other 57 coming in Week 18 when the Chiefs played backups against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Caliendo appears to be on the Chiefs’ developmental interior offensive lineman path, perhaps giving the team young cost-controlled depth at guard as Joe Thuney enters his age-32 season and Trey Smith enters the final year of his rookie contract.
Caliendo may have also seen a role open this offseason as former do-it-all interior lineman Nick Allegretti left for the Washington Commanders in free agency after playing a pivotal role in place of Thuney down the stretch for KC. Allegretti tore his UCL in Super Bowl LVIII but played through the injury, helping the Chiefs become back-to-back champions. Now, Caliendo projects to be KC’s third IOL behind Thuney and Smith ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft.
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