The Kansas City Chiefs are aiming to bring back one of their free agent defenders ahead of the 2024 NFL draft.

A source confirms to A to Z Sports that the Chiefs are attempting to re-sign DE Mike Danna, who remains a free agent after first becoming one in mid-March at the start of the new league year. I’m told that a deal could be agreed upon as early as the first week of April. 610 Sports’ Bob Fescoe first reported on March 29 that the team was working to bring back Danna.

Source: Chiefs working to bring back Mike Danna.
I hope this happens. Really like him…one of my favorite players #chiefskingdom

— Bob Fescoe (@bobfescoe) March 29, 2024

A former 2020 NFL draft pick, the 26-year-old Danna is considered a veteran leader in the trenches in Kansas City. His ability to play both edge rusher and reduce inside on pass-rushing downs makes him valuable for Kansas City, especially as Charles Omenihu rehabs an ACL injury. Danna had a career-best 6.5 sacks during the 2023 NFL season, also reaching career-high marks in tackles and pressure.

How much will re-signing Danna cost the Chiefs?
The Chiefs have some newfound salary cap space now that the L’Jarius Sneed trade has been made official. A total of $19.8M in cap space has been made available now that they’re no longer on the hook for Sneed’s franchise tag. The team is projected to have a total of around $27.4M in cap space available.

A to Z Sports’ Josh Queipo and Kyle DeDiminicantanio projected that Danna would earn a two-year contract worth up to $19.0 million, averaging $9.5 million per year, with $12.5 million in guaranteed money. Being that DE Jadaveon Clowney just signed a two-year deal with a max value of $24 million, it’s reasonable to expect that a multi-year deal for Danna could look similar.

Edge Rusher Jadeveon Clowney is to sign with the #Panthers to a 2-year, $20M deal, with a max value of $24M., per @AdamSchefter pic.twitter.com/Vv5iJ6YXxj

— A to Z Sports (@AtoZSportsNFL) March 27, 2024

Even after re-signing Danna, the Chiefs should have plenty of cap space available for other moves, including WR, OT, or RB additions, plus signing their 2024 NFL draft class and undrafted free agents.