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 will send a 2026 sixth-round pick in a trade with the New England Patriots for Uche, who has 20 ½ sacks in 58 career games.

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

By acquiring Uche, Kansas City (7-0) looks to bolster its pass rush for another run in a Super Bowl. However, the 6-foot-1, 240-pounder’s production has declined over the past two years after recording a career-high 11 ½ sacks in 2022. He had three in 15 games in 2023 and has two through seven games this season.

Uche is not an all-in-one player and often comes into play in passing situations. He has played between 30% and 38% of defense every season of his five-year career.

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

“That will be a nice addition for the future as well,” 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 16 ½ sacks, with all but one coming during his final two seasons.

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