Being overlooked and underappreciated is nothing new for Mike Danna. Even before he entered the league as the Kansas City Chiefs' fifth-round choice in the 2020 NFL Draft, Danna was being pegged as a potential undrafted free agent who would have to fight for a chance to stand out at the next level.
Now, after six seasons and more than 100 games played, Danna is potentially nearing the end of his Chiefs' tenure, as the team faces some significant financial hurdles going into 2026. With several clear roster needs following a miserable season in which the team went 6-11, Chiefs general manager Brett Veach is going to let some veterans go in the name of clearing cap space. Danna could be one of those.
Danna is coming into the final year of a three-year extension worth up to $24 million he earned back in 2024. His cap hit coming into '26 is $11M, which makes him one of the most expensive players on the roster, just outside the top 10. Given his status as a rotational defensive end, the cap hit is disproportional to his on-field impact, and that makes him a common projection as a potential roster casualty.
Mike Danna has been one of the best draft stories in recent Chiefs' history, but his career in Kansas City might be nearing its end.
After hitting his peak playing in 74 percent of all snaps in '23, Danna's snaps have fallen over each of the last two seasons. He still played in a majority of snaps in '24, the first year of his extension, at 58 percent overall, but last year, that total fell to 42 percent in '25. With an ascending financial cost coming for a player on a decline in playing time, the writing is on the wall.
The Chiefs are already committed to George Karlaftis long-term as a starter on the outside. Ashton Gillotte is coming into his second season after a promising rookie campaign. Beyond that, however, the Chiefs need some serious help. Charles Omenihu is slated to be a free agent once again, while Felix Anudike-Uzomah is coming off a lost season due to injury. That's why the Chiefs are often linked to top edge rushers in the draft.
The Chiefs' lack of depth is working in Danna's favor, but his cap hit makes that a tough call. Perhaps Veach figures out how to keep Danna around by making other moves, but his is one of the more obvious contracts to address.