The Kansas City Chiefs released edge defender Mike Danna ahead of the 2026 league year, as the team works to get under the salary cap. Originally a fifth-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Michigan product has quietly carved out a niche as a solid yet unspectacular pass rusher. While nobody will confuse him with prime J.J. Watt, Danna has recorded a respectable 21.5 sacks since entering the league.
The one silver lining to his Chiefs release is that Mike Danna can now sign with any organization in football. While he may end up waiting until after the first wave of free agency to find a new home, the following four teams could roll the dice and bring in the two-time Super Bowl champion.
4 Teams That Could Sign Mike Danna After Chiefs Release
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers have a promising roster full of young talent, but they could use more experience at just about every position. Second-round pick Nic Scourton put up a promising rookie campaign, and he could very well be a starting-caliber edge defender for years to come. However, the rest of the depth chart leaves something to be desired, both from an experience and talent perspective. Mike Danna won’t turn this defensive line into the 2003 Panthers, but the Chiefs castoff could bring some much-needed veteran leadership to this defensive line.
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots are well ahead of schedule in their rebuild. While the Super Bowl wasn’t pretty, nobody thought they would make it this far at this point last year. This team’s championship window is wide open, as franchise quarterback Drake Maye will be on his rookie contract for years to come. With K’Lavon Chaisson a free agent and Harold Landry a potential cut candidate, this defense must add someone who can get after the quarterback.
Baltimore Ravens
For a team that normally boasts a deep pass rush, the Baltimore Ravens couldn’t get after the quarterback last year. The team finished the season with just 30 sacks and traded Odafe Oweh, their best pass rusher, to the Los Angeles Chargers. First-year head coach Jesse Minter impressed during his time with the Chargers, but no coach can win games without talented players. Mike Danna shouldn’t be the prized jewel of Baltimore’s offseason, but the former Chiefs edge defender could be a solid rotational piece for what should be a championship-caliber roster.
New York Jets
The New York Jets need help at just about every position, and that includes edge defender. After conducting a historically bad defense during his first year, head coach Aaron Glenn has one more year to prove that this team can turn it around. While this team needs more high-end talent, they should also consider loading the depth chart with good-but-not-great players like Mike Danna. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and Danna would probably be an upgrade on most of New York’s pass rushers.
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