Patriots Trade Joshua Uche to Kansas City

Initially, upon his arrival, the Patriots tried Uche in a variety of spots, including off-the-ball linebacker but ultimately Uche the pro ended up in a similar spot to Uche the Michigan Wolverine as an athletic pass rusher who is limited to playing off the edge on passing downs.

Uche’s athleticism was another notable trait, he could often run down the most mobile quarterbacks, but his contributions became more limited in recent seasons, even as the edge group was thinned by departures and injuries. He could never seem to find a permanent full-time role.

Coming off a disappointing 2023, Uche signed a surprising one-year deal to return to the Patriots in 2024 but again found himself a similar part-time player for a defense that was going through a major transition.

Kansas City is unlikely to ask Uche to do anything other than what he does best, get after the quarterback. However, it will be interesting to see how respected defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo deploys his newest pass-rushing piece.

A 2026 6th-round pick won’t move the needle much in New England, but Eliot Wolf continues to stack resources to rebuild with. The team is currently projected with 10 2025 picks and eight 2026 picks.