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2018 NFL Draft: Checking Out Inside Linebackers

For the first time in more than a decade, the Kansas City Chiefs won’t have the franchise’s all-time leading tackler in Derrick Johnson roaming the middle of their defense.

Those duties will now be handed over to third-year player Reggie Ragland, who is entering his second year with the team after coming over in a trade with the Buffalo Bills at the end of the preseason last year, and also Anthony Hitchens, who was a priority free agent signing by Chiefs’ general manager Brett Veach earlier this offseason.

Individually, Ragland, whose leadership abilities have been praised this offseason, graded as one of the Top 10 linebackers in the AFC last year against the run, per Pro Football Focus.