Chiefs tender their exclusive rights free agents [UPDATED]

Kansas City is retaining some roster depth as free agency begins.

On Monday, the Kansas City Chiefs tendered minimum salary contracts to the following pending exclusive rights free agents: offensive lineman Mike Caliendo, linebackers Cole Christiansen and Jack Cochrane, defensive end Malik Herring and cornerback Nazeeh Johnson.

Most of the moves had been confirmed earlier in the day by friend-of-the-site Matt Derrick of Chiefs Digest.

Players become exclusive rights free agents by having an active-roster contract expire before accruing three seasons of service time (a mark that would see them qualify for restricted free agency). A team can retain their services by offering them a one-year, minimum salary contract. If tendered a contract offer, exclusive rights free agents may not negotiate with other teams.

For each of these players, we assume the tendered amount is $985,000, the 2024 minimum salary for players with two accrued seasons. The salaries are non-guaranteed, meaning there are no dead-money considerations if the players do not make the squad.

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.

Johnson became a core member of the Chiefs’ special teams units throughout his rookie season. He exceeded 50% of Kansas City’s special teams snaps in all three 2022 playoff games, including their win in Super Bowl LVII over the Philadelphia Eagles. Unfortunately, he suffered an ACL injury in training 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 City’s practice squad, he made the club in 2023, eventually becoming active on game days as a backup as the Chiefs navigated offensive line injuries. With longtime backup interior lineman Nick Allegretti’s future with the Chiefs uncertain, Caliendo could find himself called upon as an injury replacement in the coming season.

Christiansen — a former Army football player — entered the league as an undrafted free agent with the Los Angeles Rams in 2020. The Chiefs promoted him from the practice squad during the playoffs as an injury replacement. He played 70% of the team’s special teams snaps in their Super Bowl LVIII victory over the San Francisco 49ers.

Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images

We were unsure of Herring’s status because he spent his first season on Kansas City’s non-football injury list (NFI) after joining the team as an undrafted free agent in 2021. Although some sites listed him as a restricted free agent, we did not believe he had accrued the required service time. We can now confirm his status as an ERFA. Herring has appeared in 14 games for the Chiefs over the past two seasons, and he appeared in all four 2023 playoff games. He has 1.5 career sacks.

Derrick’s report did not address Cochrane’s status, leading to some minor confusion about where he stood with Kansas City. The South Dakota product signed with the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2022. He’s played in 32 regular season games and seven postseason contests. Cochrane has become one of the Chiefs’ most trusted special teams players, a role he will attempt to build upon in 2024.