2018 Oakland Raiders: Top-5 free agent signings

4. Derrick Johnson

For weeks during the offseason, most of Raider Nation was wondering whether or not the team was going to bring back middle linebacker NaVorro Bowman. As the weeks continued to pass, and there was no sign of him coming back, it was clear that Bowman back to the Raiders likely was not going to happen.

Instead of sitting around and sulking, the Raiders brought in a veteran middle linebacker to take Bowman’s spot in the starting lineup this season. Derrick Johnson comes over to Oakland from the hated Kansas City Chiefs, and all indications is he is healthy, after dealing with Achilles issues over the last few seasons.

Johnson was a four-time Pro Bowl player for the Chiefs, making it to his last Pro Bowl back in 2015. He is 35-years old, but he has looked spry during team activities, and brings the kind of leadership that this defense was seriously missing last season.

Oakland’s linebacking unit was terrible last season, and the team did a nice job bringing in player who fit Guenther’s 4-3 scheme. Johnson is going to be counted on to be a big contributor to the team this season, and on a one-year deal worth only $1.5 million, this was a tremendous signing.