The Kansas City Chiefs have defeated nearly every opponent they’ve faced this season, except for the Buffalo Bills. Chiefs fans probably wish they could erase the memory of that game, where the Bills handed them a 30-21 loss on November 17.
An NFL analyst and expert now believes that a player from the Kansas City Chiefs’ defense could be scooped up by the Bills during the offseason.
Buffalo Bills Need a ‘Pass-Rush Specialist’
In a December 2 article analyzing each NFL team’s roster ahead of Week 14, Matt Holder of Bleacher Report identified defensive end as a significant area of need for the Buffalo Bills. He suggested that Josh Uche, currently with the Kansas City Chiefs, could be a potential free-agent target for the Bills in 2025.
Uche, who was traded from the New England Patriots to the Chiefs in October 2024, is set to become a free agent after the 2024 season. Given the Bills’ need to bolster their pass rush, Holder believes Uche would be a valuable addition to their defense.
It’s worth noting that Uche had a standout season in 2022 with the Patriots, recording 11.5 sacks. However, his production declined in subsequent seasons, leading to his trade to Kansas City. His performance with the Chiefs this season could influence the Bills’ interest in pursuing him during the 2025 free agency period.
In his analysis, Matt Holder highlights that securing a strong edge-rusher is the Buffalo Bills’ top priority. Despite this need, he acknowledges that the Bills remain “as big a threat to win the AFC as anyone at this point.”
Regarding Josh Uche’s potential fit, Holder points out that the Buffalo Bills have “successfully transitioned from a lot of experienced players this season.” Despite these departures, he notes that the team has managed to adapt and continue winning games.
Holder goes on to predict that the Bills will release linebacker Von Miller during the offseason.
Holder explains that the Bills could release Von Miller before June 1 to save $8.5 million against the cap or wait until June 2 to increase the savings to $17.5 million. “Either way, the Bills could be on the lookout for a pass-rush specialist who could take over Miller’s role,” he stated. While Gregory Rousseau leads the Bills’ edge-rusher group, Holder suggests that Josh Uche would be an excellent complementary addition.
Josh Uche is a Recent Trade From the Patriots
Josh Uche has been a notable figure recently in the NFL, especially after the New England Patriots traded him to the Kansas City Chiefs in October.
Mike Dussault of Patriots.com highlighted in an October 28 article that Kansas City is unlikely to ask Josh Uche to do anything other than what he excels at—rushing the quarterback. He also mentioned that it will be interesting to see how respected defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo utilizes Uche in the Chiefs’ defense.
Josh Uche was drafted by Bill Belichick in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. During his time with the Patriots, Uche appeared in 58 games, recording 76 combined tackles and 20.5 sacks.
In October, Bill Belichick shared his thoughts on the trade of Josh Uche during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show.
During his appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, Bill Belichick remarked, “They (Chiefs) didn’t give up anything in my mind. Look, Josh Uche’s a really good rusher. He hasn’t had a chance to rush much this year for the Patriots because they’ve been behind a lot. The situation hasn’t been good.”
Garrett Podell of CBS Sports graded the trade a B for the Chiefs, stating that Uche is “a rental, playing out a one-year, $3 million contract,” but that a sixth-round pick is a low price for the back-to-back Super Bowl champions. He gave the Patriots a C+ grade, commenting that “New England is obviously in the midst of teardown, which is the right move for the franchise at this stage.”
