What is Derrick Johnson Worth?

bbq: Brown's apparent lack of speed says he's no upgrade over Pollard in coverage. But he's not much downgrade, either, truth be told, and he's a much surer tackler and smarter team player up near the line.

Now that New England has brought back Seau, it appears KC missed the bus on any sort of trade for a 2nd-rounder. But the fact is that DJ has missed too much time and played nicked too often when he wasn't missing time to justify much in the way of trade value.

AFRO: It might LOOK like a Peterson move to punk the guy and try to bully him in salary talks, but I think it'd be common sense to bargain fairly hard with him. He almost certainly wants a bigger raise than I'd be willing to offer him. I think, though, that the Chiefs would gladly be starting him and giving him most of the minutes if his health and consistency warranted it.

Other teams know his history as well or better than any of us, and while one might be willing to pay him more than KC would (or should), I don't see him being worth a 2nd-rounder. Maybe a 3rd-rounder or, better yet, a conditional pick tied to his production in the new venue.

But I think most teams see the writing on the wall with this guy, and only a team in contention while simultaneously in dire straits at LB RIGHT THIS MINUTE would be offering much. I think the ideal scenario is one in which DJ earns his way onto the field by staying healthy, and then doesn't get too greedy in contract talks.

His numbers are middle-of-the-road, imo. And you have to discount for how often he's out or playing hurt, because you have bigger depth issues. If he plays out the string and is instrumental in a magical 11 games this year, then fine. But I don't see that happening.

I don't even care anymore. Whatever helps us win at this point is fine by me.

We've all been supporting DJ for a long time and just waiting for him to have that breakout season ("this might just be the year DJ makes the Pro Bowl!"). The reality is that Derrick Johnson might just not have what it takes to be more than mediocre at the NFL level. He is extremely inconsistent and has not been the presence everyone hoped he would be at linebacker.

If we traded away the vast amounts of potential we had in Bernard Pollard and Tyler Thigpen, there's no reason to not trade DJ and start stockpiling draft picks for the future.

As far as I'm concerned, almost everyone on the team is expendable with the exceptions of Dwayne Bowe, Matt Cassel, Brian Waters, and Dustin Colquitt. That's not even a top 5 list, ladies and gentlemen.

There aren't many players on the team anymore that I care about enough to get upset if they are traded. The only players left from when the Chiefs were actually worth a damn are Brian Waters and Larry Johnson. Larry Johnson is no longer worth a damn himself, so that leaves one aging left guard.

We need nearly everything. O-linemen. D-linemen. Linebackers. Wide receivers. Tight ends. Running backs.

Hell, depending on how the rest of the season turns out, we may need a head coach.

If we can get good value for DJ, we should trade him as soon as possible.

No way we take Quinn. Sorry Randy but he is God awful. I like our QB lineup just the way it is for the rest of the year.

Is it just me or does it seem like Pioli and Haley are taking a page out of Carl Petersons book? Alienate your players, and then hope to resign them. No matter how unmotivated or underachieving DJ is or has been, how many possible wins could we have with him consistently on the field right now. Who knows maybe we beat Dallas, and the Raiders with DJ consistently playing. Also is Brown really that big of an upgrade over Pollard? i think i take the younger, faster, harder hitting Pollard over old, and slow brown everyday. Just my opinion

HEY we need to get Brady Quinn

I'm not sure what his value would be to those on the outside looking in. They see a player who can't play his way onto the field on an 0-5 team. We see a player who was heralded as the next great linebacker in KC when drafted in 2005, a player who despite his great physical gifts couldn't realize that potential for whatever reason. Sure, he's made some really nice plays over the years, and has left us yearning and longing for more. His play this season has us hoping that this year is FINALLY the breakout year that never comes. The NFL is chock full of talented players that can't bring it every play of every sunday, but have their moments every so often. They usually man the sidelines.

To me, it seems as though Todd Haley prefers the blue-collar, lunchpail type of linebacker that has to scratch and claw their way onto the field with average ability to the ultratalented but underachieving Derrick Johnson. I really like how he is pushing DJ to realize that potential, but I'm not sure if it's going to work out for him here. As the season wears on, it will be interesting to see how this develops. Who knows, maybe we will see the DJ every sunday we envisioned when he was drafted in 05. Hopefully he will be wearing a Chiefs uniform if/when that every happens...

Keep DJ Keep DJ

I know DJ hasn't held a consistant record as being a stud week in and week out, or been 100% healthy over the years. But I definately have seen a spark in him this year with this defense. I still believe Haley is full of it when he says DJ is nicked up. D Williams IMO hasn't done enough to gain such praise from Haley. Anybody see the forced fumble by another lost Chief? His name is Fujita and like Mitchell, was cut or traded for no good reason. I agree with DD in Haley should keep DJ on the field and let him play. Even for those of you that want to see him go now, I think he would play well enough that his trade value would probably do nothing but increase!

Keeping DJ for just eleven more games so he can ride the bench and leave in free agency is not smart business. He was not and has not been locked up (contract wise) for a reason. He won't come back to KC next year.

Merlin, if we could get a 5th for him, then do it. Start asking for a three, there are some LB needy teams out there. See what happens.

Cassel4prez, I am all for that trade, but LJ's performance and 4 million dollar contract will prohibit it. Plus the Pats love second rounders.

Only time will tell.

Jeremy, DJ came with quite a pedigree. He was not a lower round draft pick that has developed. That suggests to me that surrounded by skilled players like my man DD said he would show some skills consistently. Do you trade him because he has no help, or do you keep him and get him some support? I say keep him and get him support. Just my opinion.

Trade the johnsons(DJ and LJ) to pats for a secound rounder

What pick could we get back for DJ? Is a 5th asking too much?

Maybe I should have said Derrick Johnson is not a consistent playmaker.

I still say he is not here next year for sure. So trade him and get something.

I think I adequately qualified the term playmaker with the phrase "established or potential." DJ, when put in the right system with the right players around him, definitely qualifies for the latter at the very least. If DJ ends up somewhere else, I'm pretty confident he'll end up making a name for himself - same way Kawika Mitchell did.

DJ has had some nice moments here and there. And I would not be looking to trade him unless we got some value. But to call him a play maker? Perhaps we have differing opinions on the prerequisites for that moniker.

Johnson isn't a playmaker?

In limited time he has a sack AND an interception.
You might wanna rethink that.

He's one of the few players on this team capable of contributing big plays.

What?!?

Derrick Johnson is not a play maker. He is average at best, he has had 4 to 5 years to prove himself and has failed. He has been underacheiving constantly. They are always talking about his breakout year and it never comes. He has been the starter on our terrible defense for years.

He is in his last year, and obviously will not be re-signed. He is worth nothing to us on the bench. Belcher will provide the depth. Get a pick for him now instead of losing him for nothing.

I am all for getting rid of players who have over the years seemed to be the problem rather than the solution. DJ has not helped himself here.

I think we are doing it backwards. If you get rid of an assett like DJ you better have a replacement in place before you do it. Im tired of this revolving door personally. DD and Merlin you guys know more about it than I , anxious to hear more.

If Pioli's plan for the Chiefs was to rid the team of every playmaker, whether established or potential, I guess I have to concede that he has made huge strides so far. Dealing DJ would just be further confirmation.

It seems like an obvious move at this point. If Haley is going to bury DJ it's time to see what we can get for him. Since Pioli seems to operate with the idea that there are only about eight teams in the NFL, what can the Pat, Fins, Falcons, Cards, et al offer us?