Patriots reportedly re-sign pass rusher Josh Uche to 1-year deal
Uche reportedly had "much more" on the table elsewhere, but chose to return to New England.
Josh Uche is staying with the Patriots, according to multiple reports.
The 25-year-old linebacker inked a 1-year deal worth $3 million, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reported. Incentives could bring the deal up to $8 million.
It appears that the Patriots may have gotten a discount. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports that Uche had “much more on the table elsewhere.” ESPN’s Mike Reiss wrote that returning to the Patriots was Uche’s “No. 1 hope.”
The 2020 second-round pick excelled as a pass-rusher in 2022, posting a career-high 11.5 sacks. But, his role was diminished last season and his numbers took a dive. He posted just 15 tackles and three sacks in 2023.
Seeing Uche return to the Patriots on a one-year incentive-laden deal may come as a bit of a surprise, but it seems like he wanted to stay here.
One potential reason, according to MassLive’s Mark Daniels, was Jerod Mayo’s hiring as head coach. Mayo had been Uche’s position coach for several years before replacing Bill Belichick.
“He’d be a coach I want to play for. I’d run through a wall for him,” Uche said last season. “I love players coaches. Guys that take it deeper than the x’s and o’s. It’s more personal. You want to go out and do a good job because you know you have someone behind you that’s backing and supporting you. (expletive), I’m all in on Mayo.”
Uche is one of a number of players who have re-signed with the Patriots this offseason, including tight-end Hunter Henry, offensive tackle Mike Onwenu, receiver Kendrick Bourne, and receiver Jalen Reagor.
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