I’m sure some will paint it as evidence the Patriots are tanking.
Some may argue it’s Jerod Mayo sending a message no one is safe or something.
Even though in this instant, it’s true.
I was never as high on Uche as most people.
He was a low priority target on my list of Patriots to keep as free agency approached:
8.
Josh Uche
It says everything that this highlight is from his breakout season on 2022.
Because in 2023 he broke right back in again.
(I know that sentence didn’t exactly stick the landing, but I’m leaving it.)
Uche has established my worst fear for him when he was drafted.
And guys like him get paid way out of proportion to their actual value.
Let the record show that Eliot Wolf did sign each of my Top 5 choices.
To me, Uche was just an afterthought.
One that puts a premium on versatile, 3-down defenders, particularly at defensive end.
So what I take this to mean is the Wolf/Mayo braintrust admitting they messed up.
The Belichickian philosopher in me believes that sacks are the most overrated stat in football.
And I can promise you he’d have never extended this player.
Uche had 11.5 of the things in 2022.
And an impressive 14.5 QB hits to go with them.
He’s got 2.0 so far through eight games.
He’s currently 20th on his own roster in overall Pro Football Focus grade.
But in pass coverage, he’s 121st at his position out of 122 graded players.
So they’re cutting their losses.
I could’ve told them, but no one asked.
Now hopefully they can use that draft pick on somebody who can contribute on every down.
