The Kansas City Chiefs have swung yet another deal to land a key contributor ahead of next Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline.
The Chiefs are acquiring edge rusher Joshua Uche from the New England Patriots in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick, the teams confirmed on Monday.
Uche, 26, was a healthy scratch for the Patriots’ win over the New York Jets on Sunday amid speculation that he could be on the move.
A spot player who has never had accounted for more than 38% of New England’s defensive snaps, the former second-round pick out of Michigan nevertheless has provided a spark to the pass rush when on the field. He recorded a career-high 11 1/2 sacks in 2022 and has two this season.
With a modest $1.3 million base salary on the one-year deal he signed this offseason with the Patriots, Uche is a low-cost for the cap-strapped Chiefs.
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The two-time defending champions now get a jolt to a pass rush that has logged just 15 sacks so far this season. Defensive end George Karlaftis and defensive tackle Chris Jones are tied for the team lead with three each.
The move comes just six days after the Chiefs agreed to acquire wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins from the Tennessee Titans in an attempt to give Patrick Mahomes’ passing attack additional firepower for the stretch run of the season.
This story has been updated with new information.