The Kansas City Chiefs have made a trade for Josh Uche, a linebacker from the New England Patriots reported by Jordan Schultz via X. The Kansas City Chiefs defense, which has already been a force to reckon with this season, now adds another piece to their ranks. Uche was acquired using a 2026 sixth-round pick, and the Chiefs will be taking on his $1.3 million contract along with a $30,000 signing bonus per game. This move by Kansas City marks their second trade before the November 5 trade deadline.
The Chiefs’ first high-profile move came last week when the team acquired DeAndre Hopkins from the Tennessee Titans. Kansas City made this first move to address their wide receiver depth, after suffering multiple injuries to key wide receivers, and help provide a boost to their offense which has been lackluster most of this season. As for Uche, who happens to be a 26-year-old pass rusher, will join a top-10 defensive unit as a depth piece to help bolster the Kansas City Chiefs defensive front as they continue building on their 7-0 start to the 2024 NFL season and head into the latter part of their season.
Uche’s NFL Track Record
Josh Uche was originally drafted by the New England Patriots back in the 2020 NFL Draft with the 60th overall pick. After being drafted by the Patriots Uche was placed on injured reserve back on September 26, 2020, due to a foot injury, but was reactivated on October 31. Uche played in eight games in his first season for New England, recording his first sack on Lamar Jackson in Week 10 when they played the Baltimore Ravens. However, he was placed on injured reserve once again on December 31. Uche finished his first season with nine total tackles and one recorded sack.
Then in 2021, Uche was more of a rotational piece for the Patriots playing outside linebacker, but he was placed on injured reserve once again, this time on November 17, 2021, and was reactivated on December 25. Uche finished his second season with 12 total tackles and three sacks recorded.
After his first two seasons, in the NFL not going exactly how Uche had expected, he at last had his first breakout season in 2022. Uche finished second on the Patriots in sacks (11.5) and also had 27 tackles, and two forced fumbles through 15 games, which was a career-best for him. In 2023 his number saw a slight decline, but he was ultimately able to re-sign with the Patriots on March 13 of this year. Uche played in the Patriots first six games, recording 13 tackles and two sacks but was a healthy scratch in their latest contest against the Jacksonville Jaguars which led to his eventual move from New England to Kansas City.
Kansas City Chiefs Reinforce Its Defensive Line
Now with Uche, on the Kansas City Chiefs, he joins a defensive line room that is led by arguably the best defensive lineman in the NFL currently, Chris Jones. However, the team also has several other solid and diverse pieces as well that complement the entire room as a whole and is coached by third-year defensive line coach Joe Cullen. Although the Kansas City Chiefs were not in dire need of help at the edge, it never hurts having depth at the position as the Chiefs have learned this season.
The Chiefs through eight weeks are currently the NFL’s fourth-best pass-rushing defense, fifth-best scoring defense, and ninth-best defense on third down. In all areas, Uche can help improve with his versatility in rushing the passer and disrupting opposing offenses running games. Kansas City is also coming off its best week in terms of sacks (five), so far this season.
Also with how things currently stand, Uche would only have one less sack than both Jones and George Karlaftis who both have three recorded on the season. Tershawn Wharton also has 2.5 sacks on the year, but Uche with his two so far on the year will provide this defensive line with another player that has actual success not only getting to the quarterback but getting them on the ground. Playing alongside the caliber of players on this line already that will only up make the overall defense job so much easier in coverage on the back end.
Uche’s Impact On the Chiefs Moving Forward
Similar to what happened with the acquisition of DeAndre Hopkins, Josh Uche will be expected to make an immediate impact when he steps on the field for Kansas City, and given his track record when on the field that should not be a problem for a player of his caliber. The Kansas City Chiefs defense has already shown to be as consistent as any other top-tier defense in the NFL but with their collection of players being able to play so efficiently and effectively with one another.
A player like Uche will fit right in especially with Kansas City Chiefs Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnoulo calling the shots for the overall defense, he will surely be able to find the right spots for Uche to find the most amount of success whenever he is on the field. With Uche now in the rotation for the Kansas Chiefs moving forward, their overall defensive front should have an easier job getting to the opposing quarterbacks because this defense is already a top-three team when it comes to pressures.
By adding Uche to the mix, opposing offenses won’t be able to simply double team Jones every single down like they have been doing this season. However, even if that does continue, it will only open up Uche or the other defensive lineman to have more opportunities to get the quarterback and cause further disruption in the backfield.
Spagnoulo is known around the league for his exotic blitz packages and with a speedy edge rusher like Uche, this move certainly puts the entire league on notice once again. That the two-time defending world champions are not content with just sitting back and rolling with what they have in-house. Instead, they will do whatever they can to continue to become better and this move has given one of the best defensive coordinators in the NFL another chess piece to use against opposing teams for the rest of the season.
Final Thoughts
For the Kansas City Chiefs to be the lone undefeated team in the NFL and make a move like this only shows how serious their front office, led by General Manager Brett Veach and Head Coach Andy Reid is about securing their third straight world championship. Despite suffering key injuries to players on both sides of the ball, the team continues doing whatever they can to be better than they were the day before.
This latest move from Uche from the Patriots is just another example of that like the move for Hopkins. If the Kansas City Chiefs decide to make another move, it would only be in line with what they have done so far. Whether it was another trade or simply some personnel changes on the current roster or practice squad. To continue filling out other areas of the team as they head into the second half of their season and eventually look to make another deep playoff push.
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