Chiefs head coach Andy Reid confirmed Kansas City agreed to acquire pass-rusher Joshua Uche in a trade with the New England Patriots.
NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo reported the deal Monday morning, but the transaction wasn’t official when Reid met with reporters.
Reid expects Uche will be a “nice addition” for the league’s only undefeated team.
“It helps the secondary any pressure you can put on the quarterback,” Reid told reporters, per a team-provided video. “We’re going to add another guy in here with (Joshua) Uche. (Chiefs general manager Brett) Veach has made a trade with the Patriots.
“So that will be a nice addition, too, going forward,” Reid said. “We understand you take care of business up front, it helps everybody.”
New England acquired a 2026 sixth-round pick for Uche, per multiple reports.
Pro Football Focus graded Uche as New England’s fourth-best pass-rusher this season. The 2020 second-round pick recorded two sacks in limited playing time over seven games. Uche played 35% or more of defensive snaps in just two games given his role as a situational pass-rusher and New England’s struggles against the run. Opponents frequently built leads against the Patriots and weren’t thrust into a ton of end-of-game passing situations.
The Chiefs allow the fifth-fewest points and yards per game. Kansas City ranks fourth in pass-rush grade, per PFF.
Uche signed a one-year deal with the Patriots during the offseason and will become a free agent at the end of the season.
