Chiefs release veteran defensive end Mike Danna as combine begins
The move creates $8.9 million in cap space but underscores a growing need for reinforcements on the edge.
As the NFL Draft Combine gets underway, a time traditionally known for news breaking across the league, the Kansas City Chiefs made a move that had long been anticipated.
The Chiefs released veteran defensive end Mike Danna on Monday, creating $8.9 million in salary cap relief. The move comes just days after Kansas City restructured quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ contract, a transaction that opened nearly $44 million in cap space but still left the club needing additional flexibility.
Even after both moves, the Chiefs remain approximately $3.3 million over the projected 2026 salary cap, according to Over the Cap.
Danna’s release felt more procedural than surprising.
Two years ago, Kansas City signed the former fifth-round pick to a three-year, $24 million extension following a breakout 2023 campaign in which he recorded 6.5 sacks and 41 pressures, according to Pro Football Focus.
At the time, the Chiefs were coming off back-to-back Super Bowl titles and prioritized keeping their defensive front intact after finishing second in the NFL with 57 team sacks.
Danna had steadily improved each season since being drafted in 2020, carving out a role as one of the defense’s most versatile pieces. He aligned across the front, logging significant snaps along the interior of the defensive line, which allowed defensive line coach Joe Cullen to deploy more specialized edge rushers in advantageous situations.
However, production dipped following the extension. Over the past two seasons, Danna totaled 4.5 sacks and 42 combined pressures. While he remained a rotational contributor, starting 26 games over that span and playing 58 percent of defensive snaps in 2024 and 42 percent in 2025, the return on investment no longer aligned with the cap figure.
The Chiefs’ current edge group is headlined by George Karlaftis, who is under contract through the 2030 season and has established himself as a dependable, above-average starter. Behind him, however, questions remain.
Second-year defensive end Ashton Gillotte flashed in limited action as a rookie, recording 1.5 sacks, an interception, 38 tackles, and 24 pressures while playing 47 percent of the snaps. Former first-round pick Felix Anudike-Uzomah, meanwhile, missed the entire 2025 season with a hamstring injury and enters the final year of his contract with just three career sacks and 26 pressures.
The bottom line: Kansas City is short at least two bodies on the edge and likely needs a starter, if not a true difference-maker.
With free agency less than a month away and the draft looming, defensive end now projects as one of the Chiefs’ primary areas of focus. Depending on how the board falls, it could even be in play as high as their first-round selection at number nine overall.
For Danna, the move marks the end of a productive chapter in Kansas City. The former Central Michigan standout, who transferred to Michigan for his final collegiate season, appeared in 87 games for the Chiefs and totaled 21.5 sacks.
Monday’s decision represents both a cap necessity and a signal of what lies ahead. Next moves will likely include releasing right tackle Jawaan Taylor or simple restructures to create cap space. Candidates for those include defensive tackle Chris Jones, Nick Bolton, Trey Smith, Creed Humphrey, and Karlaftis.
The Chiefs’ offseason work is just beginning.