Mike Danna, the defensive end for the Kansas City Chiefs, became a free agent for the first time.

Mike Danna, the defensive end for the Kansas City Chiefs, became a free agent for the first time.

Defensive end Mike Danna made his first trip into free agency this summer following four successful seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, offering him an opportunity to make money after finishing his rookie contract. Danna, meanwhile, is still unsigned and, at least publicly, unconnected to any significant offers or pursuits from other teams after the peak days of NFL free agency have passed.

Why has Danna’s market not taken off, and is it possible that he may return to Kansas City? After being selected in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft out of Michigan (having started at Central Michigan), Danna played in 59 games during the regular season and 13 games during the postseason with the Chiefs.

With the Chiefs, Danna’s role continued to expand, as did of defensive snaps. Among defensive lineman, he played 745 of KC’s regular-season defensive snaps in 2023, second only to George 755. Danna was utilized in a variety of ways by defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s defense line. He was able to spend the majority of his time on the edge and, when the Chiefs wanted to add more speed to the edge, hold his own on the interior.

Additionally, Danna allowed defensive lineman Chris Jones to move inside-out in search of matchups against offensive tackles. In summary, Danna played a significant part in 2023, improved steadily over his four years in Kansas City, and possesses special abilities that the Chiefs’ defensive coaching staff cannot match.

Pro Football Focus listed the 26-year-old Danna as the 103rd best free agent, offering a projected three-year contract for $24.75 million, of which $14.75 million is guaranteed, or $8.25 million annually. Basically, a $15 million, two-year contract that is guaranteed.

While Danna isn’t an elite player who can get top dollar, he is still superior to the typical pass-rushers who typically take one year “prove-it deals” before joining a new team.

That may place him in an odd middle class for teams in need of defensive end assistance, but it should boost the Chiefs’ chances of keeping Danna in the fold going forward. The second compelling reason for a reunion is: In silence, the Chiefs are in dire need of another defensive end.

The Chiefs are left with nothing but unanswered questions behind. It will be challenging for Charles to compete in Week 1 after suffering an ACL tear in the AFC Championship Game. Felix was selected by the Chiefs in the first round of the 2023 draft, however he played just a few games during his rookie campaign.

BJ Thompson, the fifth-round selection from the previous year, saw action in just the season finale for KC, when backups did the majority of the job. Malik Herring is still on the roster after seeing action late in the last campaign instead of.