Drafted in 2005, Derrick Johnson has been with the Kansas City Chiefs just as long as any other player on the team's roster.

In his 11 years as a pro, he has been a near constant on the inside of the defense for the Chiefs, but beside him at the Mike (middle inside) linebacker position, that has been far from the case.

That is, until the past few seasons with seven-year NFL veteran Josh Mauga.

"I've played with 10 or 11 Mike backers, so to actually play next to a Mike backer that I played with in back-to-back years? It's wonderful," Johnson said at the beginning of OTAs. "It's all about chemistry. [Mauga] knowing me, I'm knowing him, knowing what I'm going to do and him reacting off of that, probably more so him reacting off of me.

"I do a lot of crazy stuff in there sometimes, but Josh is a veteran guy and he knows the defense in and out and we're going to depend on him and other guys at that position."

Together in 2015, the duo accounted for 174 of the team's combined tackles and 5 of the team's sacks.

"They're good veteran players," linebackers coach Gary Gibbs explained, "and not only do they know the system, they know how to play. I though DJ had an outstanding year last year. Josh didn't play as many snaps as he did the year before (after DJ was hurt) which was a good thing, but those guys understand the game. They're smart. They're coaches on the field and they're valuable to us now."

The "coaches on the field" aspect will be important for the Chiefs as they begin to develop younger players at the inside linebacker position.

Last year's fifth-round pick in D.J. Alexander proved his value on special teams last season and last year's fourth-round pick in Ramik Wilson has impressed the coaching staff during workouts this offseason.

"[Wilson] had the chance to play a little bit last year," Gibbs said. "Going through OTAs, being able to study during these meetings that we have, he's just so much further along than he was a year ago. Once you get in pads [and] you start playing real football, we'll get a better idea about that, but he's done a good job so far."

Another player who has turned heads during OTAs has been second-year LB Justin March, who according to Johnson, had no limitations from the torn right meniscus injury he suffered last training camp as of late April.

"When Justin came in here last year, he did a great job," defensive coordinator Bob Sutton said. "The one thing he did was, he was around the ball a lot. He tipped the ball, he got the ball, he recovered the ball. He was near the ball, and that's a really great trait to have if you're on defense."

The Chiefs hope that if he can make the team, March will actually get to see some regular season game time this season.

"We're excited to see him come back from his injury and see what he can do, and every indication is he hasn't lost anything," Sutton said. "I think he's obviously like any guy—going to be more comfortable in the system even though he didn't get to play. He's one of those guys that's in here around the clock studying, rehabbing, and I think it's going to pay off for him."

Between the veterans and the younger depth only improving, inside linebacker should be a position of strength for the Chiefs entering 2016.