Mike Caliendo’s contract year could end just like Nick Allegretti’s did

Nick Allegretti used to be the Kansas City Chiefs’ ultimate utility lineman, a reliable reserve who could be called upon at a moment's notice and trusted to hold his own. The former seventh-round draft pick out of Illinois parlayed that into a Super Bowl ring and a multi-year deal with the Washington Commanders once he hit free agency.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid says he sees the same model in front of him with Mike Caliendo.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid spoke very highly of Mike Caliendo at his latest press conference.

Following the third and final day of Chiefs’ mandatory minicamp, Reid addressed reporters and was asked Caliendo, a third-year player out of Western Michigan who was originally an undrafted free agent signing. While many assumed Kingsley Suamataia would slide into the left guard role vacated by the Joe Thuney trade, Caliendo has impressed Reid enough to keep that door open.

"Yeah, he's had a great [offseason]," said Reid. "Great kid. Very, very smart.Hard worker. He's gotten better every year from the step in and do what he did this past year. He knows he can play at this level. We saw how [Nick] Allegretti did it, and I'll tell you that he's doing the same. It looks like the building blocks are kind of the same there."

That’s not faint praise. Allegretti went from roster longshot to vital depth piece to integral starter in a Super Bowl win. In fact, Allegretti’s last game as a Chief was Super Bowl LIX, where he filled in admirably for an injured Thuney.

The Chiefs might very well go with Suamataia at left guard to start the season, but the rigors of an 18-week regular-season schedule will inevitably take their toll, leaving little doubt that Caliendo's value will be established at some point.

If Caliendo can provide some more impressive work in a pinch for the Chiefs, it might lead to another franchise wondering what exactly his ceiling would be if given regular reps. Allegretti was fortunate (and talented) enough to earn that sort of life-changing money in free agency. In a contract year, Andy Reid feels like the potential is there for Caliendo to do the same.