It is a foregone conclusion that the New England Patriots will trade Josh Uche at some point in the next 24 hours. After failing to come to terms on a contract extension prior to the season, the two sides have reportedly cut off communications. Now, the Patriots are 2-6, clearly out of the postseason picture, and should try to get something for their star pass rusher. Uche has not had his best year in 2023, but he is just one year removed from an 11.5-sack season on one of the NFL’s better defenses. In a league where stopping the pass has never been more important, somebody should be willing to give up a decent asset for a sack machine like Uche.
Top 5 Trade Destinations For Josh Uche, Ranked
New Orleans Saints
At 4-4, the New Orleans Saints are tied for the top spot in the NFC South and should be considered the favorites to win the division. However, if they want to actually make a deep playoff push, they’ll need to do something about their pass rush. The team lost a lot of talent in their front seven during the offseason, and they tried to plug that hole with rookies Bryan Bresee and Isaiah Foskey. So far, the two have combined for just 1.5 sacks. A Josh Uche trade won’t complete mitigate the loss of Marcus Davenport, but it will give the team a proven veteran pass rusher to pair with Carl Granderson and Cameron Jordan.
Jacksonville Jaguars
At 6-2, the Jacksonville Jaguars are the clear frontrunners for the AFC South crown. Winning the division is great, but if this team wants to make a deep playoff run, they’ll need to trade for someone like Josh Uche to get after the quarterback. Josh Allen is the only serious pass-rushing threat on the roster, as former first-overall pick Travon Walker still looks like a raw, undeveloped talent. Uche was at his best when he was playing second-fiddle to Matthew Judon, and the same thing can happen again with Josh Allen serving as the top threat to the quarterback.
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens have one of the best defenses in football, but there is always room for improvement. The team has a collection of good-but-not-great pass rushers, but they don’t have an edge defender with 10-sack potential. A Josh Uche trade would give them that game-wrecking talent, and the Ravens wouldn’t have to blitz quite so frequently to get after the quarterback. Alternatively, if they continue their aggressive blitzing, then Uche’s presence will make it even harder for the opposing offensive line to pick up all of the incoming rushers.
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions and Jacksonville Jaguars have a lot in common. Both teams sit atop their respective divisions but only have one dangerous pass rusher on the roster. For Detroit, that player is Aidan Hutchinson. The former second-overall pick is fantastic in his own right, but teams need more than one player if they want to consistently get after the quarterback. Josh Uche would easily be the second-best edge defender on the roster and a trade would make this team even more dangerous in the postseason.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs have one of the better defenses in football, ranking top 10 in just about every meaningful metric. However, most of their edge defenders are on the younger side. This team could use an experienced veteran to help guide some of the youngsters, and Josh Uche is a perfect fit for the job. Kansas City reportedly considered bringing back old friend Frank Clark, but the former postseason hero recently signed with the Seattle Seahawks. With no proven veteran free agent available, a Josh Uche trade would probably be the most cost-effective way to bolster their defensive line.
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