Chiefs acquire former Michigan pass rusher in trade

Outside linebacker Josh Uche reunites with a former Michigan teammate in Kansas City.

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Chiefs are sending a 2026 sixth-round pick in a trade with the New England Patriots for Uche, who has 20½ sacks in 58 career games.

The 2020 second-round pick was a healthy scratch in New England's surprising 25-22 win over the New York Jets on Sunday as the team gauged trade interest across the league. He will join the Chiefs' front seven, which also includes former Wolverines defensive end Mike Danna, his teammate in Ann Arbor in 2019.

By acquiring Uche, Kansas City (7-0) is looking to bolster its pass rush for another Super Bowl run. However, the 6-foot-2, 240-pounder's performance has declined over the past two years after recording a career-high 11½ sacks in 2022. He played three of 15 games in 2023 and has played two to seven games this season.

Uche is not an all-down player and often comes into play in passing situations. He played between 30% and 38% of the defensive snaps in each season of his five-year career.

The two-time All-Big Ten honoree signed a one-year, $3 million contract last offseason to remain in New England and will be a free agent after the year. Kansas City has been active on the trade market and also acquired receiver DeAndre Hopkins from the Tennessee Titans last week.

“This will be a nice addition going forward,” Chiefs head coach Andy Reid told reporters on Monday about the trade for Uche.

In his four-year career at Michigan from 2016 to 2019, Uche had 16½ sacks, all but one in his final two seasons.

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