Poll results: Raider Nation overwhelming prefers NaVorro Bowman over Derrick Johnson as Raiders middle linebacker

Thursday former Chiefs free agent linebacker Derrick Johnson is reportedly visiting the Raiders. Despite the fact that the long time starting middle linebacker has terrorized Raider offenses throughout his 13-year career in Kansas City, Raider Nation would rather the team to sign NaVorro Bowman over adding Johnson.

According to the poll results, more than 95 percent of those who have voted (around 2000 at the time of this posting) would rather have Bowman at middle linebacker than Johnson.

At first, I would have thought that Oakland fans would want some sort of revenge on the Chiefs by signing one of their former players and then beating them with the new addition. However, the saying “once a Raider, always a Raider” seems to hold true. In this case the fans support the player who has donned the Silver & Black rather than one who has played for Kansas City.

It also helps that Bowman filled in admirably at a gaping hole on the Oakland defense in 2017. While only playing in 10 games for the Raiders, he led the team in tackles (89) and accrued a Pro Football Focus player rating of 84.8, 11th best in the NFL compared to Johnson’s 77.3 rating, 33rd in the league.

In total Bowman had 127 tackles in 15 games last season between the 49ers and Raiders. Johnson had 71 tackles in the same number of games.

Both players have had impressive NFL careers it would appear Raider Nation is right to select Bowman. He is five years younger, had the better 2017 season and is already familiar with the organization.