The Los Angeles Rams’ defensive line rotation has been a talking point all season — and now, thanks to a recent move by the Kansas City Chiefs, the Rams have an opportunity to add a situational pass-rush option that could address one of their biggest needs.
On Monday, the Chiefs parted ways with veteran defensive end Mike Danna, a 2020 fifth-round pick who spent 87 regular-season games and 16 postseason games with Kansas City, racking up 23.5 sacks, seven forced fumbles, and an interception during his tenure. His release clears nearly $9 million in cap space for the Chiefs, and it makes Danna a potential target for teams like the Rams looking to bolster their pass-rush depth.
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Why the Rams Need a Situational Pass Rusher
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The Rams’ defensive line was one of the least rotated in the NFL during the 2025 season.
Top 4 players accounted for nearly 60% of all DL snaps (59.94%)
Only 12 total players were used, tied for the fewest in the league
Backup snaps made up just 40%, second-lowest in the NFL
Analyst Cody Alexander, appearing on the Rams LAFB Show, broke down the issue:
“I think they need depth. … The problem is, the Rams are very much 11 people on the field. … When you look at the past two Super Bowls, teams like the Eagles and Seahawks could constantly rotate guys on the edge. … The Rams need somebody who can come in and give a breather, even if it’s just for a cut, but you’re not losing anything doing that.”
In short, the Rams need fresh legs on obvious passing downs to maintain pressure, reduce fatigue, and prevent late-season drop-offs in defensive efficiency.
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How Mike Danna Fits the Rams’ Needs
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Danna’s 2025 performance paints him as a classic situational pass rusher.
Total pass-rush snaps: 183
Total pressures: 8
Sacks: 1.0
Pressure rate: 4.4%
Total EPA: +2.52
While his overall pressure rate is modest, his situational impact shines on 3rd-and-long, where he recorded:
13.3% pressure rate
1 sack and 2 additional pressures on just 15 snaps
He also showed versatility, lining up as both an edge rusher and inside at DT:
Left DT: 25% pressure rate on 12 snaps
Right DT: 5.6% pressure rate on 18 snaps
This kind of multi-alignment flexibility would allow defensive coordinator Chris Shula to deploy Danna in nickel/dime packages or switch him inside on passing downs, creating mismatches against offensive linemen while keeping starters fresh.
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Filling the Rotation Gap
Compared to the league’s most rotated lines — Arizona, San Francisco, Atlanta — the Rams’ rotation strategy in 2025 was top-heavy:
Rams top 4 concentration: 59.94% of snaps
Arizona top 4 concentration: 42.5% of snaps
Teams that rotate effectively can maintain pressure and explosiveness deep into games. For LA, Danna could act as the missing piece in that rotation puzzle, providing high-leverage snaps on 3rd downs while preserving the energy of Jared Verse, Byron Young, and the rest of the starters.
“It’s about attrition,” Cody Alexander noted. “How healthy can you stay? How fresh can you stay? … The Rams need more depth.”
Why This Matters for 2026
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A situational pass rusher like Danna wouldn’t just be a plug-and-play addition. He addresses multiple pain points:
Fresh legs on passing downs to sustain pressure late in games
Interior versatility to create mismatches against blocking schemes
Positive EPA impact to help the defense get off the field
Rotational depth to reduce starter fatigue
In a league where games are won not just by talent but by freshness and situational execution, adding a veteran like Danna could be exactly the kind of low-risk, high-reward move the Rams need to complement their top-tier edge players and shore up a defensive line that has long relied on a small core of starters.
Bottom line: Danna may not be a full-time starter, but for a defense that struggled with rotation and late-game freshness in 2025, he’s a perfect fit for the team’s situational pass-rush needs.