Is Derrick Johnson The Best Middle Linebacker In NFL?
By Ben Nielsen
We have Chiefs fans have known this for quite some time but it appears some of the rest of the NFL world is starting to catch on to the fact that Derrick Johnson is really good at football. Pete Damilatis went on a bit of a Twitter rant about Johnson and suggested that if Johnson is not the best middle linebacker in the NFL then he certainly is in the discussion.
Derrick Johnson doesn't get enough credit when people talk best LBs. Only Patrick Willis has been more consistent last 5 yrs.
— Pete Damilatis (@PeteDamilatis) July 3, 2014
Pete notes the one thing Johnson doesn’t have on his resume is a “number one season” where he was definitely the best middle linebacker in the game. Patrick Willis seems to have always found a way to either be the number one rated middle linebacker in football or at least find himself a notch ahead of Johnson. This would seem to indicate Damilatis would give the number one spot to Willis.
But the number two spot? That’s definitely in play for Johnson.
@Piz281 Yes, but I'd rather have him over, say, a Bobby Wagner, Karlos Dansby, Vontaze Burfict who haven't done it as long or consistently.
— Pete Damilatis (@PeteDamilatis) July 3, 2014
Nevertheless, if you're arguing the best LB in the NFL, Derrick Johnson has to be in the conversation.
— Pete Damilatis (@PeteDamilatis) July 3, 2014
Johnson has been the Chiefs most consistent performer on defense since jumpstarting his career in 2009, and has in many ways been the heart and soul of this franchise. He is the longest tenured Chiefs player and plays with a very team-friendly contract. It will be interesting to see what the Chiefs do after the 2015 season when both he and Jamaal Charles are scheduled to be free agents.
For now, let’s enjoy the fact that Kansas City has arguably the best middle linebacker in the game.