Patriots' linebacker Josh Uche talks about his future, NFC West team 'heavily' interested at deadline

Nov 15, 2023

Patriots linebacker Josh Uche’s name was floated as a possible trade candidate before the NFL trade deadline. Ultimately, the Patriots held onto Uche, who is in the final year of his contract with New England.

The 25-year-old has kept silent about his status with the team this season, but that changed on Tuesday. Uche spoke with MassLive’s Karen Guregian on his future.

“The conversation I had was a mutual thing where the organization wanted me here, and of course, I wanted to finish my career where I started,” Uche said to MassLive. “But things like that are out of my control. There’s a situation where if a deal or something was enticing (to them), I would have gotten moved.”

The Seattle Seahawks reportedly were heavily interested in acquiring Uche at the deadline, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

“Uche’s market took a few turns in the past week,” Fowler wrote in a Nov. 1, article on the worldwide leaders website. “Seattle looked heavily into him before ultimately deciding to sign Clark instead. Then in the past few days, the Saints got involved.

“The feeling on Uche was that a Day 3 pick might have facilitated a deal, making it more palatable for suitors who needed a pass-rusher but didn’t want to spend on Sweat or Young. But teams also cautioned that New England likes to appear open for business … until it isn’t. By Tuesday, the Patriots were excited about keeping Uche, a talented player who should do well in free agency.”

While Uche would have understood if he was traded at the deadline, the linebacker was relived that he remained in New England.

“To finish out my career with the guys I started would be great,” he said. “I would like to see it through. I was in a similar situation at Michigan. Things were kind of difficult. In college, you can transfer and leave, but that’s not how I was raised. I want to finish something that I started. That’s just how I am.”

Uche told Guregian that he wants to remain with the Patriots and sign an extension. The Michigan alum wants to be part of the young defensive core.

“We’ve talked a bit,” he said. “But I’m not at liberty to give you all the details, but it’s mutual. The organization would love me to be here, and I would love to be here as well. There’s just some fine-tuning and some things and details that need to be worked out to make it a possibility. But right now, it’s hard to say (if it’ll get done) and everything gets smoothed out.”

Uche understands that if he doesn’t land an extension, he will have opportunities in free agency.