Josh Uche is now officially a member of the Patriots. On Wednesday, the second-round linebacker inked his rookie contract, as NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. 
Uche notched 8.5 sacks in 2019 to lead the Wolverines in the category for yet another year. Pro Football Focus had him rated as one of the very best in the nation at generating pressure and that was further evidenced by his 11.5 tackles for loss.
Leading up to the draft, there was some concern about Uche’s size for the NFL level and some evaluators wondered whether he could last as a linebacker. That didn’t ward off the Patriots, who saw him power through blocks over and over in his highlight reel. Uche isn’t the biggest ‘backer out there, but he seems to find a way. Just ask first-round tackle Jedrick Wills:
“It was Josh Uche,” said Wills when asked to name his toughest matchup in college (video link). “He was a really good pass rusher. Has some counter moves, some speed to him. So it was a good matchup that I went against.”
With the No. 60 overall pick signed, the Patriots have many more deals to go. Here’s the full rundown of the Patriots’ draft class, via PFR’s team-by-team tracker:
2-37: Kyle Dugger, S (Lenoir-Rhyne)
2-60: Josh Uche, LB (Michigan): Signed
3-87: Anfernee Jennings, OLB (Alabama)
3-91: Devin Asiasi, TE (UCLA)
3-101: Dalton Keene, TE (Virginia Tech)
5-159: Justin Rohrwasser, K (Marshall)
6-182: Michael Onwenu, G (Michigan)
6-195: Justin Herron, T (Wake Forest)
6-204: Cassh Maluia, LB (Wyoming)
7-230: Dustin Woodard, C (Memphis)
Sorta ironic that Bill is going back to great special teams, solid D, good ground game, and (hopefully) a QB that won’t throw picks. Similar to Brady’s 1st starting season.
Truthfully though great ST, solid D, and a good ground game can be dated back to the start of the game.
Sure. But it’s not where the game is heading offensively.
Mobile QB to beat man to man and extend plays with their legs.
Speed receivers who can make plays in open space and stretch the field.
That’s where football is currently with Kansas City and Baltimore exemplifying things.
Ask Cam how good its to be a running QB. He cut off years of earning by taking those hits. He can’t even get teams to talk to him, form what I’ve read this offseason.
Might be a good idea in the short term, but in the long term I don’t see these mobile QBs last long without a great o-line. Luck retired and Newton can’t find a taker because he’s injury prone.
Exactly! That’s why the Pats have more super bowls than every “mobile” QBs combined. Oh wait, what?
@JJ. The NFL has been trying to phase special teams play out the game for a while now and will probably succeed eventually, ruining the game even more.
I agree. Its sad to witness.
It was fun reading Marv Levy’s autobiography and learning about the importance of ST. I wish the NFL would stop tampering with the nature of the game.
On the other hand, I don’t think the future of the game is dependent on having a running QB. It truly depends on mobility, which requires knowing when to escape the pocket and improvise. I think that’s the difference between Rodgers/Mahomes and Newton/Vick
Uche will be fun to watch for all you Pats fans.
Just us?