Right now, Tamba Hali and Derrick Johnson are waiting on the open market as they look to continue their careers outside of Kansas City.
This is a tough time of year for many NFL veteran players, even those who were valuable performers even just a season ago. The NFL offseason is toughest on those who’ve already given the years of their rookie contract, as veterans wait to see what interest they get after teams flirt with another incoming crop of young prospects.
Two such players still waiting their turns will one day be heralded at the 50-yard line at Arrowhead Stadium when they will be inducted into the Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame. Linebackers Derrick Johnson and Tamba Hali have both indicated that they feel they have quality football left to play. While other veterans have said goodbye at various points throughout this offseason, both DJ and Hali have left themselves open for another team besides the Chiefs to indicate an interest.
For Johnson, he will be another season removed from an Achilles injury that sidelined him for the entire 2016 season. It was inspiring how he was able to come back and be a part of the starting rotation for the Chiefs last year, but it was clear Brett Veach wanted to get younger in the middle after giving serious money to Anthony Hitchens and trading for Reggie Ragland.
At the time of his release from the Chiefs, Johnson stated that he wanted to play “several” more seasons in the NFL. Hali, his longtime teammate, hasn’t made any such statements but it’s clear he still feels he can play even after only starting two games in the last two years.
Hali has 89.5 career sacks and perhaps he should be able to find a role a la John Abraham or Dwight Freeney as a veteran situational pass rusher who can come in and provide a spark with his abilities, technique and experience. The downside here is that injuries have played a role (and taken a toll) on Hali’s ability to remain on the field.
For now both players will likely watch the draft with interest to see which linebacker needy teams are still dealing with the same concerns after May 1. The calls might not come until later this summer, but here’s hoping both Chiefs legends can find a fulfilling next stop in the journey.