In news that should surprise absolutely nobody, the Kansas City Chiefs declined the fifth-year option of former first-round pick Felix Anudike-Uzomah. Selected with the 31st-overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Kansas State product was supposed to bring another pass-rushing presence off the edge and help Kansas City keep its status as the NFL’s team to beat. While the Chiefs remained one of the most dominant teams in the league (2025 notwithstanding), it sure wasn’t because of the pass rusher.
Anudike-Uzomah’s career began with a whimper and has yet to notably improve. He appeared in every game as a rookie, but he didn’t make a single start and recorded just 0.5 sacks, 14 tackles, two tackles-for-loss, and seven quarterback hits during his time on the field. He didn’t notably improve in Year 2, recording just 2.5 sacks, 27 tackles, six tackles-for-loss, and seven quarterback hits. To make matters worse, he missed the entirety of the 2025 season after suffering an offseason hamstring injury.
To say Felix Anudike-Uzomah hasn’t played up to his draft capital is an understatement, and declining the fifth-year option in his contract is a no-brainer. While he is under contract for one more season, the Chiefs could try to trade him for whatever they can get. After all, he was a first-round pick, and some team may be willing to part with a late-round selection to see if Anudike-Uzomah can thrive in a new environment.
Chiefs Could Trade Felix Anudike-Uzomah After Declining Fifth-Year Option
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins have one of the weakest rosters in football, and the new coaching staff has openly embraced the rebuild as they try to move past the Tua Tagovailoa Era. While the Dolphins face an uphill battle to win more than five or six games, every single team in the league is trying to compete for the playoffs at this point in the offseason. While building for the future should be the top priority, it wouldn’t hurt the Dolphins to send a conditional seventh-round pick to the Chiefs for Felix Anudike-Uzomah. After all, he’s only 24 years old and won’t have to outplay too much talent to make it onto the field.
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings had no choice but to trade Jonathan Greenard to the Philadelphia Eagles, as they simply couldn’t justify his salary with all of their cap space issues. While Greenard’s money is off the books, somebody must step up and fill his spot on the roster. Felix Anudike-Uzomah is far from the safest bet in the game, but the one-time Super Bowl champion is a decent low-risk, medium-reward trade candidate who could be a nice under-the-radar addition for a Vikings team competing in one of the NFL’s toughest divisions.
Washington Commanders
The Washington Commanders entered the 2025 season with Super Bowl aspirations and ended it with a top-10 pick. While injuries to quarterback Jayden Daniels played the largest part in this team’s undoing, it wasn’t the only reason for the underwhelming campaign. The Commanders need more young talent on this roster, and Felix Anudike-Uzomah could fill this role. After all, he just turned 24 and might be able to give this team a boost in the pass rush if he can thrive in a new environment.
