The Chiefs have turned things around in quite some fashion after going 0-2 at the start of the season. They’re now sitting at 4-3 after a 31-0 blowout win against the Las Vegas Raiders. Everything’s clicking, but they need to fix some cracks. And the biggest crack right now is their pass rush.

According to the NFL writer Kevin Patra, a pass rush reinforcement is currently the biggest need for head coach Andy Reid‘s Chiefs. “Walloping Las Vegas didn’t change the deadline priority in K.C.,” he wrote.

“The sample size was small (a total of 30 offensive plays and 18 pass attempts logged by the Raiders on Sunday), but the Chiefs earned just six total pressures against a beleaguered Raiders O-line, per PFF. Defensive tackle Chris Jones had three. No one else had more than one. It didn’t matter one iota in Week 7, but eventually, the pass rush will need help,” Patra added.

Everything’s finally clicking for the Chiefs. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes is putting up MVP numbers again, the receiving corps is reunited after Rashee Rice’s return, and the defense is holding up pretty well. But to compete for the Lombardi yet again, they’ll have to fix their deepest hole, that is, the pass rush.

The Chiefs have only been able to sack the opposing quarterback 15 times over the first seven weeks this season. That’s not good enough for a Super Bowl contender. George Karlaftis leads the group with 3.5 sacks, followed by Chris Jones, Charles Omenihu, and Drue Tranquill with two apiece.

According to ESPN, their 38% pass-rush win rate ranks just 21st in the NFL. For a defense run by Steve Spagnuolo, that’s simply not championship-level production.

The situation’s only gotten worse with injuries. Rookie defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott tore his ACL against the Raiders and is done for the year, Felix Anudike-Uzomah is on injured reserve, and Chris Jones hasn’t looked quite like himself this season. He’s been good, but he can’t do it all alone. If the Chiefs are serious about defending their title, they’ll need to bring in some help.

Potential trade options for Chiefs’ pass rush

It’ll be a little hard to snatch up big names this close to the trade deadline. Yesterday morning, we would’ve said that the Chiefs need to jump at the chance of signing Maxx Crosby from the Raiders after those trade rumors surfaced. But the Las Vegas Raiders were quick to shut them down.

If we’re talking big names, Trey Hendrickson would make the most sense. His contract situation dragged through the offseason, and while he got a pay bump (a $14 million raise for 2025), there’s still no long-term deal in place.

That means Cincinnati might listen to offers. Hendrickson, who’s tallied four sacks and 15 tackles so far this year, remains one of the league’s most consistent edge rushers. He’d instantly give Kansas City’s defense some much-needed bite. It can be a little costly to pull him in mid-season, but Trey Hendrickson still has a few good years left in him. Clearly.

The Giants made a smart move by exercising Kayvon Thibodeaux’s fifth-year option, locking him in for a modest $14.7 million next season. While Thibodeaux is expected to push for an extension this offseason, the team’s contractual control makes him a realistic trade candidate ahead of the deadline. The talented edge rusher has logged 2.5 sacks and 22 pressures so far this year, and would be one of the most intriguing defensive players available if New York decides to move him.

Another intriguing option is Jermaine Johnson II from the Jets. The former first-rounder has only appeared in three games this season, posting one sack and 15 tackles. And there’s only so much you can do with the Jets’ defense.

But everyone who’s watched him knows how good he can be around a well-structured defense. He’s racked up 103 in his four-year career and 7.5 sacks in 2023. And the best part? He seems fed up. “Laying it all out there, man… something gotta give,” he wrote. And if he forces a move out, the Chiefs could get him for cheap. He could be a good complement to Chris Jones.