The Patriots are trading OLB Joshua Uche to the Chiefs for a 2026 sixth-round pick, a source confirmed Monday.
The writing was on the wall Sunday when Uche was inactive in the Patriots’ 25-22 win over the Jets.
“It was just a healthy scratch, and we also have to put the best team out there that we think gives us the best chance to win,” head coach Jerod Mayo said Monday morning of Uche’s absence.
Uche signed a team-friendly one-year, $3 million contract with the Patriots in free agency this offseason. He was originally selected by the Patriots in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft out of Michigan. Uche never found a full-time role in the Patriots’ defense and was primarily used as a situational third-down pass rusher.
Uche showed star potential in 2022 when he registered 11.5 sacks playing opposite Pro Bowl pass rusher Matthew Judon. He never had more than three sacks in any other season with the Patriots.
Uche played in seven games with one start this season with the Patriots and recorded 13 tackles, two sacks and three total QB hits.
He’s the second pass rusher the Patriots have traded this year. They also deal Judon to the Falcons for a 2025 third-round pick during training camp.
The Patriots are left with edge defenders Keion White, Deatrich Wise and Anfernee Jennings on their 53-man roster and Ochaun Mathis and Jotham Russell on their practice squad. Patriots linebackers Jahlani Tavai, Christian Elliss and Sione Takitaki also played limited roles as edge defenders in Sunday’s win.
The Patriots could elect to sign Mathis from the practice squad to their 53-man roster since they’ve used up all of his gameday elevations.
“There were some options on the table, but in my heart, I felt I was destined to be a Patriot,” Uche said in April about taking a discount to stay with the Patriots. “Despite what was offered, I felt like this was my calling to be a Patriot. I felt like it was what I was destined to do and I felt like this is what I want to be. I don’t want to be anywhere else. You gotta do what you gotta do, follow your heart.”
He added, “It was interesting. I had a lot of people calling me crazy. 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. However that shakes out, I 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 said at the time that playing for head coach Jerod Mayo and defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington “played a large role” in his decision to return to the Patriots.
Uche was also a candidate to be dealt before last year’s trade deadline.
