The Kansas City Chiefs traded draft capital to the New York Jets for defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on August 24, returning the two-time Super Bowl champion to the place where he began his NFL career as a third-round pick (No. 75 overall) in 2018.
Chiefs’ Derrick Nnadi Trade Draws Encouraging Reaction
Chiefs Bring Back Derrick Nnadi in Trade With Jets
Nnadi, 29, signed with the Jets during the 2025 offseason, but New York’s trade to acquire Harrison Phillips from the Minnesota Vikings made this deal a possibility and reality. Reactions to the Chiefs’ trade have been telling for both Nnadi and the team.
“Derrick Nnadi has always appreciated his time in KC. The Chiefs desperately needed a veteran interior lineman for early downs,” ESPN’s Nate Taylor posted on X on August 24. “Consider this essentially Skyy Moore for Nnadi.”
The Chiefs traded Moore to the San Francisco 49ers with a 2027 seventh-round pick for a 2026 sixth-rounder.
The Chiefs and Jets are swapping conditional sixth- and seventh-round picks in this deal.
Chiefs Prediction Comes True
Nnadi spent 2024 as a reserve for the first time in his Chiefs tenure, leading to career-low production. He had started 86 of his 98 appearances up until that point, including back-to-back 17-start campaigns in 2022 and 2023.
He started one of his 17 appearances in 2024, but Nnadi’s impact was undeniable, leading Aarowhead Addict’s Price Carter to suggest a reunion four days before the trade.
Carter also suggested wide receiver Mecole Hardman, who is with the Green Bay Packers.
Can’t wait to see these posts in a few days from the Chiefs account pic.twitter.com/ROW2CD2IMo
— Price Carter (@priceacarter) August 20, 2025
The Chiefs are in precarious shape at receiver, especially with Moore traded to the 49ers.
Rashee Rice is back and healthy, but his looming potential discipline from the NFL amid his ongoing legal issues clouds the group’s outlook. The Chiefs will still have second-year first-round pick Xavier Worthy and fellow speedster Marquise Brown.
They also drafted another burner in the 2025 draft, Jalen Royals, in the fourth round and still have the ageless Travis Kelce at tight end.
That made defensive tackle a priority and Nnadi a fitting target for the Chiefs.
Chiefs DT Room Gets Much-Needed Boost
Derrick Nnadi, New York Jets, defensive tackle
Sep 22, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi (91) looks to tackle Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson (7) during the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
The Chiefs return Nnadi to a group that still has versatile All-Pro Chris Jones, who started 15 games in 2024 but sometimes kicks outside to defensive end, and Mike Pennell. Pennel made seven starts and logged less than a 30% snap share, per Pro Football Reference.
The Chiefs lost Tershawn Wharton, who started 10 games and trailed only Jones in snap share among the D-line, in free agency to the Carolina Panthers.
They signed Jerry Tillery in free agency from the Minnesota Vikings to offset that loss.
Tillery, who turns 29 in October, logged 11 starts in 2024 and has started 50 of his 96 career games played. Behind him, the Chiefs would be relying on unproven talent behind Marlon Tuipulotu, their only other reserve with NFL regular-season experience.
The Chiefs’ defense ranked fourth in scoring, ninth overall, and eighth against the run in 2024, and bringing Nnadi back is a good way to try replicating those numbers in 2025. Nnadi and the Chiefs will open the 2025 campaign on the road against the Los Angeles Chargers on September 7.
Main Photo: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images