Former Chiefs DE Mike Danna
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Now-former Chiefs DE Mike Danna penned a nice goodbye to the team on Tuesday.
With the arrival of the NFL Scouting Combine, teams around the league shift their offseason work into high gear. The Kansas City Chiefs, for example, have both the NFL Draft and free agency to consider alongside 31 other NFL clubs.
With the salary cap serving as a recent obstacle, general manager Brett Veach has made some tough calls. One of them on Monday was parting ways with defensive end Mike Danna.
How does Danna feel about the career-altering move?
Mike Danna Offers Heartfelt Message Following Release From Chiefs
Documented by Nick Jacobs of KSHB 41 News in Kansas City, Danna posted a message to his Instagram account on Tuesday. It’s all love for the organization and its fan base.
“To the greatest fans in the world, the incredible city of Kansas City, and the entire Chiefs organization,” Danna’s post began. “Today marks the end of an unforgettable chapter in my life. After six incredible years wearing #51, it’s time to say goodbye to the only NFL home I’ve ever known.”
Danna went on to thank head coach Andy Reid, chairman/CEO Clark Hunt, Veach and additional Chiefs staff. He described his tenure in Kansas City as something that would stay with him “for the rest” of his life. Ahead of free agency, Danna said he’s “excited for the next opportunities ahead and ready to get to work.”
Taking the podium at the Combine on Tuesday, Veach tipped his cap to Danna. He also didn’t shut the door on a potential reunion down the line if his free agent market doesn’t materialize elsewhere.
“Mike Danna was in the building this week,” Veach said. “I had a chance to talk to Mike. You guys know Mike, he’s as good as it gets. Just a tremendous player and person. I have a lot of respect for him and wanted to just have that opportunity, since I saw him this weekend, to just let him go out there and see what his market is, and we’ll remain in contact.”
Was Parting Ways With Danna the Right Call?
First and foremost, Danna is a prime example of the NFL Draft system rewarding both a team and its player. Coming out of Central Michigan and Michigan, Danna was a fifth-round pick back in 2020. Despite entering the NFL during one of the wonkiest cycles in recent memory, he managed to play 13 games as a rookie and logged 59 regular-season outings over the course of his rookie contract.
Danna’s play, rightfully, earned him a multi-year contract extension at an affordable market rate. It’s a near-perfect instance of a team scouting correctly and a player rising through the ranks to land a lucrative second deal as a professional. The downsides are always present, however, which Kansas City found out in the past two campaigns.
Last season, specifically, was a rough one for Danna. In 15 games, he notched just 25 tackles (3 for loss) with 4 quarterback hits, 1 pass broken up and a lone sack. Per Pro Football Focus, his 56.7 pass rush grade ranked 98th out of 115 qualified defensive ends. Danna had 9 pressures in 192 pass rush snaps. In 2023, the year that earned him his latest contract, he had 41 in 464 opportunities.
Moving off of Danna’s deal saved the Chiefs $9 million against the cap while incurring just under $2.2M in dead money. All things considered, it was a no-brainer. The low-hanging fruit moves like that — as well as potentially releasing right tackle Jawaan Taylor — open up avenues for free agency acquisitions.
It’s an unfortunate ending to the Danna era. With that said, it’s something both sides clearly reflect on with plenty of gratitude.