The Kansas City Chiefs are expected to release long-serving veteran linebackers Derrick Johnson and Tamba Hali this offseason, according to ESPN’s Adam Teicher.
#Chiefs reporter Adam Teicher expects the release of ILB Derrick Johnson and OLB Tamba Hali. #NFL
— Drew Boylhart (@DrewBoylhart) February 9, 2018
By releasing those two, the Chiefs would save $15.6 million in cap space.
#Chiefs are likely to release LBs Tamba Hali and Derrick Johnson in the offseason. KC would save $15.6M in cap space by releasing them.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) February 9, 2018
Johnson, 35, was drafted 15th overall in the 2005 NFL Draft by the Chiefs. He has played his entire 13-year NFL career in Kansas City and is the franchise’s all-time leader in tackles win 938. However, he has torn both of his Achilles' tendons in the last four seasons, which has sapped his athleticism. He suffered the second one late in 2016, but still returned to play 15 of 16 regular season games in 2017.
Johnson has said he plans to play on for a 14th season in 2018, but it now appears unlikely that it’ll be in Kansas City.
Meanwhile, the 34-year-old Hali has also spent his entire career with Kansas City after being taken No. 20 overall in the 2006 draft. He has been a remarkably durable and productive player over the course of his career. He played at least 15 games in his first 11 seasons and is second on the all-time Chiefs sacks list with 89.5.
However, he played in just five games in 2017 after he suffered an undisclosed injury which kept him out for all of training camp and preseason and recorded zero sacks.
Johnson's loss will no doubt be a big blow to the Chiefs, particularly in the locker room. But they do have a promising young inside linebacker in Reggie Ragland to help fill the void on the field. However, the Chiefs will need to get some added help at edge rusher this offseason with the release of Hali, as well as the uncertain future of Dee Ford.
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