On Monday, the Kansas City Chiefs sent a 2026 sixth-round draft pick to the New England Patriots in exchange for veteran linebacker Joshua Uche.

Uche has a one-year contract that he signed with New England after entering free agency following the 2023 season. Uche is scheduled to become a free agent at the end of the 2024 season, so the Chiefs will only retain his services for a limited time unless they opt for an extension.

It remains unclear whether Uche’s addition to Kansas City’s roster was a short-term or long-term play by general manager Brett Veach, but Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is certainly excited about the move either way.

If the franchise has plans for Uche beyond the end of their 2024 campaign, Veach and Kansas City’s front office will have to get creative to find a way to extend him without jeopardizing their ability to retain other talented Chiefs , who will also join the agency free of charge.

This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: Chiefs-Patriots trade: When will Joshua Uche become a free agent?