Patriots Trade Rumors: Joshua Uche Draws Interest Ahead of 2024 NFL Deadline
October 19, 2024
New England Patriots linebacker Joshua Uche could be a hot commodity at this year's NFL Trade Deadline.
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN listed Uche as a player that team's have expressed interest in due to his low base salary:
The Lions are doing their due diligence on the pass-rush market, looking for help replacing Aidan Hutchinson (tibia/fibula). For their matchup this week against Minnesota, they will roll with James Houston, Josh Paschal and new addition Isaiah Thomas off the edge. But Detroit has checked on the Haason Reddick situation. Browns defensive end Za'Darius Smith could also be a name to watch here. And teams have interest in Pats sub rusher Joshua Uche, too. While Reddick wants a new contract, Uche and Smith are on low-base salaries this year (Smith at $1.2 million, Uche at $1.3 million), which makes them quite tradeable.
Uche is in his fifth NFL season and has recorded 13 tackles and two sacks in six games for the Patriots this season. He is just two season's removed from an 11.5 sack season from 2022 and the 26-year-old still has significant potential.
While the Patriots would hate to lose him, the team has bigger issues and getting some draft capital could allow the team to build a new core along quarterback Drake Maye and Christian Gonzalez.
Uche, meanwhile, could provide strong depth at a cheap price for the remainder of the season before he hits the open market in the offseason.
The NFL Trade Deadline is set for Nov. 5 at 4 p.m. ET.
