The Kansas City Chiefs traded for pass rusher Josh Uche on Monday. The 26-year-old was acquired from the New England Patriots for a 6th-round pick in 2026. Along with DeAndre Hopkins, Uche is the second player the Chiefs have added via trade in the past two weeks.
The Uche deal comes as a bit of a surprise to most. Kansas City is near the bottom of the league in sacks, but they still get heavy pressure through QB hurries and knockdowns. So where does Josh Uche fit in the Chiefs’ defense?
Chiefs Trade for Pass Rusher Depth
The Chiefs only have 15 sacks on the season but are fifth in the NFL in QB pressure percentage. This is mostly due to their 34 QB knockdowns, second highest in the league. Chris Jones and George Karlaftis consistently get in opposing quarterbacks’ faces to disrupt plays and force incompletions.
Josh Uche was a solid player during his five years in Foxborough but has been plagued by inconsistency and injuries the past few seasons. He had a standout campaign in 2022, recording 11.5 sacks in 15 games. However, he has never had more than three sacks in any other season. The Chiefs hope to reignite some of the magic from Uche’s 2022 season.
Chiefs Need Josh Uche to Fill in for Injuries
The Chiefs’ trade for Josh Uche gives the team an additional pass rusher to rotate on defense. The move may also be a response to Mike Danna’s absence. The reliable defensive end has missed the past two games with a pectoral injury, and his timetable for return is still unclear.
The Chiefs are also still missing veteran pass rusher Charles Omenihu, who tore his ACL in last year’s AFC Championship game. While star offensive playmakers going down has been the bigger story, the mounting injuries at the defensive end were becoming more noticeable. Bringing in Josh Uche gives the Chiefs much-needed depth at the position.
Are the Chiefs Done Making Trades?
The Chiefs have persevered to a 7-0 record despite major injuries to key starters. The team has done well bringing in replacement players to mend these issues. With that being said, will the Chiefs continue to trade for players and bolster their chances at a three-peat?
Many have speculated the Chiefs will trade for a running back such as Miles Sanders or Devin Singletary. However, Kareem Hunt has been excellent in his return to Kansas City, so the Chiefs may hold off on adding another running back.
The Chiefs may look to add a defensive back following Jaylen Watson’s season-ending injury. Tre’Davious White and Greg Newsome are possibilities. Arguably the league’s best secondary unit, Kansas City has enough depth at DB to get by without Watson.
Looking Ahead
Having addressed their urgent needs and sitting atop the AFC with an undefeated record, the Chiefs are in great shape going forward. The trades for Hopkins and Uche come at the perfect time, as the team’s next three opponents all have winning records. The new arrivals will have to step up immediately if the Chiefs are to stay undefeated.
Next up for the Chiefs is a Super Bowl LV rematch against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday Night Football.
Main Photo Courtesy of Christopher Hanewinckel – USA Today Sports
