Arriving in the 2020 NFL Draft, linebacker Josh Uche stands 63 tackles and 18.5 sacks into his New ... [+]
Joshua Uche had an opportunity to stay in Foxborough as NFL free agency opened. And so he did, despite drawing competitive offers from elsewhere around the league.
The New England Patriots outside linebacker moves forward with a one-year, prove-it pact that includes a base value of $3 million and up to a maximum value of $8 million.
But Uche moves forward in a familiar place. That carried value beyond the numbers left behind.
“There were some options on the table, but in my heart, I felt I was destined to be a Patriot,” Uche told reporters during his Tuesday press conference at Gillette Stadium. “Despite what was offered, I felt like this was my calling to be a Patriot. I felt like it’s what I was destined to do and this is where I want to be. I don’t want to be anywhere else. You got to do what you got to do and follow your heart.”
Under head coach Jerod Mayo and defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington, Uche’s second contract with the organization brings a $1 million signing bonus and $1.3 million base salary. Ahead are workout and per-game active bonuses as well as $5 million in incentives. According to OverTheCap.com, his cap number checks in at $2.94 million for 2024, which currently ranks 24th on New England’s roster.
For the Florida native, it was a risk was worth taking as the NFL’s legal tampering period began in March.
“It was interesting. I had a lot of people calling me crazy,” Uche said. “A lot of people focusing on the financial parts of the decision. But I feel like the team that gave me an opportunity, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be. I can’t envision myself playing for another team. And however that shakes out, I just know at the end of the day, the ball was in my court and this is the dream that I wanted to fulfill, to be a Patriot.”
Uche, 25, recorded three sacks and two starts in the last year of his rookie deal. While earning a $1.344 million base salary, the 6-foot-3, 240-pound former Michigan Wolverine appeared in 15 games and finished with as many tackles.
In a sub-rushing role on passing downs, Pro Football Focus charted Uche for 37 combined quarterback pressures. He had seen 29% of the snaps on defense and 13% of the snaps on special teams by the end of the 4-13 campaign.
“I think last year was difficult as a whole,” added Uche. “Record-wise, it doesn’t reflect the amount of hard work we put into things that’s going on. But that’s when you see the true character of somebody is when things aren’t going the way that they want them to go. You see who’s still going to stand in the fight, who’s going to stick it out and who’s going to keep pushing and working hard every day.”
Arriving in the second round of the 2020 NFL draft at No. 60 overall, Uche spent time off the ball and on injured reserve early on in his tenure. He now stands 18.5 sacks into his run with the Patriots. While forcing a pair of fumbles off the edges in 2022, the lean, late bloomer amassed a career-high 11.5 sacks across from perennial Pro Bowler Matthew Judon and walked away with AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors.
“This is home for me, so I know the ins and outs,” Uche said. “I know the coaching staff. I know the players, the guys here. I know this is home for me. I don’t know if it’s that much of a bet because it’s my home. But in terms of finances and years and things like that, yeah, you could consider that a bet if you will. If I’m going to bet on anybody, I’m going to bet on myself and my team.”
