While the Eagles have focused on trimming their payroll this offseason, they’re also making key additions. Their second signing in free agency is linebacker Joshua Uche, who is reportedly joining Philadelphia on a one-year contract.
Looking to bolster their pass rush, the Eagles reached a deal with former Chiefs and Patriots linebacker Joshua Uche, according to Adam Schefter. Uche will look to help fill the void left by Josh Sweat and the soon-to-be-retired Brandon Graham. The agreement was brokered by agents Drew Rosenhaus and Kyle Lincoln.
A second-round pick by the Patriots in 2020 (60th overall out of Michigan), Uche was traded to the Chiefs before the 2024 trade deadline, appearing in six games for Kansas City. Over his five-year career, he’s tallied 86 tackles, 34 quarterback hits, and 20.5 sacks, including a breakout season in New England when he posted 11.5 sacks.
Primarily a rotational player, Uche has contributed on both defense and special teams but has never played more than 40 percent of defensive snaps in a single season. Still, with the Eagles in need of pass-rushing depth after losing Sweat and Graham, Uche’s versatility as a linebacker and defensive end makes him a valuable addition.
Pre-draft scouting report by Lance Zierlein:
Weighing Uche’s athleticism and raw ability against his inexperience and limited instincts makes him a tough player to assess. He may struggle to find consistent success as a situational pass rusher, but there’s potential for a team to unleash his natural quickness and agility as an interior blitzer. Uche has good closing speed, tackles well, and is surprisingly fluid in coverage. However, whether he can develop into a reliable, every-down linebacker rather than just a short-term hybrid athlete will depend on sharpening his instincts at the second level and pairing with a creative defensive coach who can maximize his potential.
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