Kansas City Chiefs Trade for New England Patriots Pass Rusher Josh Uche

The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs have made one other transfer forward of the NFL’s commerce deadline, now including to the defensive aspect of the ball.

In response to a number of stories, the Chiefs are buying New England Patriots move rusher Josh Uche in trade for a 2026 sixth-round draft choose.

On October 24, Jordan Foote of Kansas Metropolis Chiefs On SI analyzed a possible Uche-to-KC commerce and supported the pitch (with numbers from earlier than Week 8) made by Seth Walder of ESPN:

“It is onerous to argue with Walder’s logic right here,” Foote wrote. “Whereas Uche has failed to copy his 11.5 sacks from 2022 (three final yr in 15 video games, two this yr in seven video games), he stays an intriguing move rush menace. There are different – and typically higher – methods to measure that. Though he is logged only one strain in his final two contests and has 13 on the yr, his Professional Soccer Focus move rush grade of 72.7 ranks thirty first amongst 183 edge gamers. That, mixed with the aforementioned move rush win fee, provides him a pleasant complementary profile alongside a defensive entrance. There are additionally the issues of Uche’s age and contract to contemplate. The previous second-round choose remains to be simply 26 years previous, having celebrated his birthday shortly after the beginning of this season. He is on a really reasonably priced one-year contract that comprises some incentives however solely $1.3M in base wage. With the Tennessee Titans reportedly absorbing $2.5M within the Hopkins commerce, it’d make the cash-strapped Chiefs in a position to contemplate getting Uche on the books.”

In a corresponding roster transfer, the Chiefs will reportedly place tight finish Jody Fortson (knee) on injured reserve, in response to Pete Sweeney.

Uche, a 2020 second-round choose, bolsters a move rush rotation that has been inconsistent in 2024. With Mike Danna having now missed three video games resulting from accidents, second-year defensive finish Felix Anudike-Uzomah has seen a large workload whereas Cameron Thomas, acquired for a seventh-round choose in August, has taken simply six complete defensive snaps within the three video games he is been energetic.

Whereas Danna’s well being could possibly be in query, Charles Omenihu ought to stay on monitor for a late-season return from his January ACL tear. In the meantime, George Karlaftis has performed almost 86% of the defensive snaps this season, a hefty workload for an edge rusher. Even whereas being constructed round defensive deal with Chris Jones, the Chiefs’ move rush has been forgettable for lengthy stretches of the season. If Uche can carry some fast wins to the protection, life ought to get a bit simpler for KC’s secondary because it battles accidents of its personal.

Learn Extra: Chiefs vs. Raiders Snap Counts: DeAndre Hopkins Sees Sizable Workload in KC Debut