Locked on Chiefs: Derrick Johnson alone can’t fix the KC ILB position

The Kansas City Chiefs have a serious need, if not their most critical need, at the inside linebacker spot in this off-season.

Derrick Johnson’s Achilles injury is not thought to be career-ending. He has recovered from the same injury on the other leg and should be able to recover again by all accounts. That said, no injury is 100% predictable and there is no way to be certain about Johnson’s availability. For his part, Johnson told Terez Paylor of the KC Star during Super Bowl weekend that he plans to be back in uniform for Chiefs training camp in 2017.

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Even if that does come to pass, the position still likely needs a serious upgrade at the other inside linebacker spot.

Ramik Wilson played admirably down the stretch for the Chiefs. Wilson ended the season as the third-leading tackler on the Chiefs defense, behind only Derrick Johnson and Eric Berry. While Wilson made strides during the season, he remains an athletic linebacker in need of development. He still leaves a lot to be desired when defending the run.

The hope was that Justin March-Lillard would be able to return from a hand injury to make an impact down the stretch. Surprisingly, he was unable to retake the field and Terrance Smith started in his place.

Many believe that March-Lillard and Wilson are the future of the position but that outlook is uncertain at best.

For a playoff team like the Chiefs, a high-value upgrade at the position is one that can make a noticeable impact on the field and help push this team to an AFC Championship game. If the team makes an ILB selection in the first 3 rounds of the upcoming draft, expect an all-out competition for the starting job next to Derrick Johnson.

Locked on Chiefs is a daily podcast show that drills down to the bottom line and will give you a 360-degree view of the Kansas City Chiefs. Take a few minutes to hear about your Chiefs each day. We’ll cover the offseason, the draft and all the way to the Super Bowl and want to cover the topics you want to hear about. So reach out to us on twitter @LockedOnChiefs with questions and for up to the minute analysis and episode information.

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