One of the things that got lost in yesterday's game was how well Mike Caliendo played at Left Guard. This was his first ever career start and he ended up being one of the highest graded players on our offense.
This is notable because the Chiefs are going to lose at least one of our starting guards, Joe Thuney and Trey Smith, in the next two years due to cap constraints. I do believe that, despite carrying a larger price tag, Smith will be the one we resign, since he's a young, talented player we can build around for years to come. Plus, Thuney may make the decision easier for us and decide to retire after his contract is up.
If Thuney has to be cut next year to save $16 million in cap space or leaves in 2026, Chiefs will need a new Left Guard. Caliendo may just be the solution to that problem: a cheap replacement that wouldn't require us to spend draft capital. If I'm Veach I'd urge Reid and the other coaches to give him significant reps in the off-season, and if I like what I see, sign him to a long-term deal ASAP!
2 comments
Didn’t he start in the super bowl?
Tbh it’s absurd to even think about cutting Thuney after this season, even with how much money we can save by that. Thuney is the best LG in the league by a mile and he’s performing at a high level. I know that he will regress in the upcoming years coz of his age but at this point, if I were Veach, I’d extend him for 2 more years, pushing the cap and making room for other signings. It feels insane to cut a player coming off a First Team All Pro this season