When the Buffalo Bills signed outside linebacker Mike Danna, formerly of the Kansas City Chiefs, the move was viewed as a savvy attempt to add depth on the defensive front. The veteran has been a mainstay in Kansas City in recent years, playing over 500 snaps in four of the last five seasons.
But in Buffalo's crowded group of edge rushers, there may not be a spot for Danna.
The 28-year-old is set to fight for his job as the Bills kick off training camp.
Mike Danna is already on Bills' roster bubble entering training camp
Danna has logged 49 starts for the Chiefs over the last six seasons, including 14 in 2025. He's a capable player who makes his living by setting a strong edge against the run and providing enough pass-rushing juice to rotate in on late downs.
His one-year, $1.4 million contract with the Bills didn't instill much confidence in his position on the roster, though. While most of the deal is guaranteed, Buffalo won't take on much of a dead cap hit if he is released.
Danna is set to compete in a busy edge group. Gregg Rousseau and Bradley Chubb will hold down starting jobs, with Michael Hoecht operating as the primary backup as he recovers from his Achilles injury. Behind him, the picture is unclear.
Second-round rookie TJ Parker is expected to play a role, but he may be brought along slowly. Landon Jackson may kick inside, but he should still get some snaps on the edge. Even former fifth-round pick Javon Solomon has a chance to steal a spot on the roster.
Buffalo kept five edge players on the initial 53-man roster last season. While a shift in system under new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard could shift positional capacities, it's clear that Danna is fighting for limited space on the roster.
Leonhard comes from a Denver Broncos system that prioritized burst and athleticism from its edge rushers. Players like Nik Bonitto have thrived in Denver despite not fitting the typical mold of an NFL defensive lineman. Danna doesn't exactly fit the description of a typical Broncos edge rusher. He'll need a strong training camp to prove that his skill set can be useful in this system.
It may seem harsh that we left Danna off our early roster projection, but his job isn't as secure as his name value may suggest.
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