The Oakland Raiders agreed to a one-year deal Friday with veteran linebacker Derrick Johnson to bolster the middle of their defense.
Coach Jon Gruden said Johnson adds a presence to the defense that was needed.
"He brings us status at a critical position
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schemes. He understands the AFC West and certainly understands this rivalry. I'm
really excited to add him to our team."
The 35-year-old Johnson spent his first 13 NFL seasons with the rival Kansas City Chiefs and will likely fill the role at middle linebacker that NaVorro
Bowman played the second half of last season.
Johnson has been one of the better linebackers in the league during his career but was allowed to leave Kansas City earlier this offseason as the team
tried to get younger.
Johnson is a four-time Pro Bowler and the career tackles leader for the Chiefs.
He appeared in 182 games with 169 starts since being drafted in the first round in 2005. He piled up 1
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touchdowns.
He had a career-best 179 tackles in 2011
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Johnson piled up his impressive stats despite missing part of two seasons with ruptured Achilles tendons. He returned from the first one as good as ever,
earning his most recent Pro Bowl trip in 2015, but the second seemed to finally
take a step out of his legs this past season.
He had 48 tackles in 15 games last season but slowly lost playing time to younger teammates in the middle of the Kansas City defense.
The Raiders need an anchor in the middle of their defense. Bowman fared well in that role after being signed last October following his release by San
Francisco. There was interest in bringing him back for a second season but the
two sides couldn't agree on a price.
Oakland didn't address that need at linebacker in the draft until the sixth round last week with the pick of Washington linebacker Azeem Victor.
The Raiders also waived linebacker Cory James with a failed physical designation and cut defensive lineman Armonty Bryant with a non-football
illness.
The Tennessee Titans have added a pair of defensive linemen after placing cornerback Tye Smith on injured reserve and waiving injured defensive
lineman Claude Pelon.
The Titans announced Tuesday they signed Johnny Maxey and Du'Vonta Lampkin.
Smith started both playoff games last January for the Titans and had 11 tackles with an interception during the regular season. Pelon
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The 6-foot-5 Maxey was on the Titans' practice squad for the final month of last season before being waived in April. He also has been on Pittsburgh's
practice squad and roster, playing two games in 2016. The 6-foot-4 Lampkin went
undrafted out of Oklahoma and was in Baltimore's rookie minicamp this
spring.
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