After finishing second in total team sacks in both 2022 and 2023, the Kansas City Chiefs fell to a tie for 18th in 2024. Despite solid overall defensive stats—like ranking 4th in total points allowed—the pass rush wasn’t getting the job done as well as in previous years.

One of the pass rushers whose production took a step back in 2024 was veteran Mike Danna. Coming off a career-high 6.5-sack season in 2023 and getting rewarded with a 3-year, $24 million contract in the offseason, his sack total fell to 3.5 in 2024—his lowest since the 2021 season. To be fair to Danna, he did miss several games due to injury, but his 17-game pace was still his lowest since 2021.

Mike Danna faces rising competition and must rebound in 2025 to secure his future with the Chiefs.

This past offseason, Brett Veach made sure to bolster both sides of the trenches. Not only did he sign multiple offensive tackles, but he also added two pass-rushers early in the draft, Omarr-Norman-Lott and Ashton Gillotte. The latter is a defensive end, the same position as Mike Danna.

George Karlaftis is fresh off a huge contract extension, so neither his short nor long-term role is in danger. Gillotte, as long as he’s a capable rotational defensive end, should see regular snaps for the next 4 seasons. Charles Omenihu, fresh off his first normal offseason in multiple years, could be poised to bounce back in 2024. Not to mention that if Felix Anudike-Uzomah somehow takes a huge step in his development, he could surpass Danna as well, as unlikely as it is.

Mike Danna is not in any danger of being released. Steve Spagnuolo loves his veterans, and the team will not cut him after a lackluster August. But he could use a strong preseason showing. After a significant step back in production in 2024—and with a contract that would allow Kansas City to save $9 million by releasing him in March—Danna doesn’t have much financial security beyond this year.

As of right now, the only defensive end who’s firmly ahead of him is Karlaftis, but Gillotte, Omenihu, and maybe even Anudike-Uzomah are hot on his trail. A weaker—or even just solid—2025 season could be his last in Kansas City. He needs a great season to remain on the team in 2026, and a strong training camp and preseason would be a great start.