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Veteran defensive end Mike Danna is among the Kansas City Chiefs' top cut candidates in 2026.

The Kansas City Chiefs have rebuilt a good portion of their roster during the 2026 offseason.

Before signing free agents and making their draft selections, the Chiefs had to part with several players to create some salary cap space. Many were free agents who they chose not to re-sign, but guys such as offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor and defensive end Mike Danna were cut.

Former Kansas City Chiefs De Mike Danna Signs With Buffalo Bills

According to a report from NFL insider Adam Schefter, the Bills have signed Danna to a one-year contract.

The financial terms have yet to be revealed, but it was likely a very affordable deal for Buffalo. Danna’s career took a downturn in 2024, as he was plagued by calf and pectoral injuries that cost him five games. He would record just 3.5 sacks that season. Many expected a bounce back in 2025, but he only managed to post one sack, along with a career low 25 tackles.

The Chiefs selected Danna in the fifth-round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He was a solid rotational pass rusher early on, then earned a starting role in 2023. That season he recorded a career high 6.5 sacks and 32 tackles, which earned him a three-year, $24 million contract from Kansas City the following offseason.

The Chiefs cut Danna with one year left on his contract back in February, saving them $9 million in salary and bonuses. They could not risk paying him significant money given the trend of his declining production. Still just 28 years old, Danna could get back on track with the Bills. It will be interesting to see him transition from being a 4-3 defensive end in K.C. to a 3-4 outside linebacker in Buffalo.

Chiefs Will Have Several New Starters Defensive Starters in 2026

Danna is one of several starters from the 2025 season who are no longer in Kansas City. Defensive lineman Charles Omenihu, linebacker Leo Chenal, safety Bryan Cook, and cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson are all with new teams. Not only have the Chiefs addressed each of those positions this offseason, but may have found a way to get younger and cheaper without a dramatic drop off in talent.

There’s still a long way to go, but for now it appears rookie R Mason Thomas will replace Danna as a starting defensive end. Thomas as a smaller speed rusher is a very different player than Danna, who plays with power. The Chiefs are hoping that’s the key to getting more sacks in 2026, after Danna and Omenihu combined for just 4.5 in 2025.

Replacing Omenihu will be either rookie Peter Woods, second-year man Omarr Norman-Lott, or free agent addition Khyiris Tonga. Omenihu just wasn’t the same after tearing his ACL late in the 2023 season. It appears that second-year linebacker Cooper McDonald is poised to take over for Chenal after flashing last season as a rookie.

Back in the secondary, free agent signing Alohi Gilman will plug in for Cook. Gilman will look to be next in the long line of safeties who have excelled under defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. Over at cornerback, rookie Mansoor Delane and second-year player Nohl Williams are likely to be the new starters. Delane was considered by most to be the best corner in this year’s draft class, and Williams was impressive during his rookie year.