Josh Uche

Jihaad Campbell Progressing, Working With Eagles’ First Team; Latest On OLB, S Situations

July 30th, 2025 at 5:58pm CST by Sam Robinson

Viewed as an upper-crust talent in the first-round mix this year, Jihaad Campbell fell to No. 31 largely because of injury concerns. The rookie linebacker missed the Eagles’ offseason program, but his climb toward the expected starting role is underway.

Although Campbell was not expected to be at full speed yet, PHLY.com’s Zach Berman notes is already mixing into first-string work. The Eagles are listing the Alabama product as limited, but the Philly Voice’s Jimmy Kempski indicates little about his workload suggests a limited tag is necessary. That certainly represents good news for the Eagles, as Berman points to a Week 1 lineup configuration including Campbell alongside Zack Baun at linebacker.

Campbell having dealt with trouble involving both shoulders, undergoing surgery on one in March, scared some teams during the pre-draft process. But he avoided the active/NFI list to open Eagles camp. A dynamic player who only slid to linebacker (from the edge) due to the Crimson Tide being deeper there during his college career, Campbell has already come up as a player with an edge-rushing future.

For now, the Eagles have their top prospect stationed at off-ball linebacker. Campbell is competing with Jeremiah Trotter Jr. for the job alongside Baun, Kempski adds. While noting the second-generation Eagles LB has started off camp well, Campbell being ready to roll would seemingly make this a non-competition. Campbell’s rookie contract aligns with Baun’s $17MM-per-year deal, giving the Eagles good balance once they have the rookie up to speed.

Shifting to the edge, the Eagles have two experienced options as apparent insurance policies behind hopeful starter Jalyx Hunt. Josh Sweat‘s free agency defection and Brandon Graham‘s retirement leave the Eagles with OLB questions, and they took fliers on supplementary rushers Azeez Ojulari and Josh Uche. Thus far, the two vets are working almost exclusively with the second team, the Philly Voice’s Geoff Mosher adds, while Hunt plays opposite locked-in starter Nolan Smith.

Padded work in practice, along with the defending Super Bowl champs’ preseason games, could change this equation. For now, though, the Eagles are not mixing their low-cost FAs into first-string work much — to the point Kempski indicates Ojulari has not shown much early in camp. The four-year Giants contributor drew extensive trade interest before last year’s deadline but only fetched a one-year, $3MM Eagles deal in free agency. Uche is on a one-year, $1.92MM pact. A 2024 third-rounder, Hunt played 241 defensive snaps as a rookie; he tallied 1.5 sacks and three QB hits before matching each total during Philadelphia’s playoff slate.

As expected, Sydney Brown represents second-round pick Andrew Mukuba‘s primary competition at safety. The two split reps early, per 94WIP.com’s Eliot Shorr-Parks. Mukuba, who goes just 186 pounds, has missed early-camp time with a shoulder injury. The Eagles could also limit their non-Reed Blankenship safety’s usage by giving Cooper DeJean safety time in base sets, which was an offseason talking point. Brown lost his job to C.J. Gardner-Johnson last year, as the 2023 second-round pick was rehabbing an ACL tear sustained late in his rookie season. With Gardner-Johnson traded to Houston, Brown has another chance to start. Two years remain on Brown’s rookie contract.

Rounding out late-July Eagles matters, Jordan Davis said (via the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane) he has dropped 26 pounds to weigh in at 330. The imposing D-tackle is now extension-eligible, but the 2022 first-rounder’s part-time usage (down to 37% in 2024) connected him to the bottom rung on the option ladder. Davis is now tied to a fully guaranteed $12.94MM in 2026; the substantial weight loss could help him stay on the field more en route as an extension case builds.

OLB Jalyx Hunt Expected To Start For Eagles

July 14th, 2025 at 5:05pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Eagles are moving into a new era of edge rushers after the retirement of Brandon Graham and the departure of Josh Sweat in free agency.

Since 2018, Graham and Sweat has accounted for 209 appearances, 116 starts, and 7,050 snaps in Philadelphia, though Graham largely played a rotational role in the last three years. Still, the Eagles will have to replace both players’ snaps to maintain a pass rush that helped power their championship run.

Leading the edge room will be 2023 first-rounder Nolan Smith. He emerged as a starter partway through the 2024 season and Graham’s triceps injury in Week 12 only increased his role. Smith finished the regular season with 6.5 sacks and added 4.0 more in the playoffs while playing 76.8% of the Eagles’ defensive snaps.

The primary candidate to start opposite Smith is 2023 third-round pick Jalyx Hunt, per Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports Philadelphia. Hunt started his rookie year as a healthy scratch and finished it as a playoff hero with 1.5 sacks in the postseason. This offseason, he added weight and impressed Eagles All-Pro right tackle Lane Johnson in spring practices. Graham also said on the Ross Tucker Podcast that Hunt had put on some “good weight,” adding that “the sky’s the limit for him.”

With a pair of 24-year-olds set to start this year, the Eagles added veteran edge depth this offseason by signing Azeez Ojulari and Josh Uche to one-year deals. Both flashed as impact players earlier in their career – Ojulari with 8.0 sacks as a rookie in 2021 and Uche with 11.5 sacks in 2022 – but consistency has been lacking since. Ojulari missed 22 games in the last three years due to injury, while Uche only logged 5.0 sacks in the last two seasons, but both will have a rotational role right away with the potential to eat into Hunt’s snap share if he falters.

On the interior, the Eagles will be looking to Jordan Davis and Moro Ojomo to replace Milton Williams alongside Jalen Carter on pass-rushing downs. Ojomo is leading the battle coming out of the spring, per Geoff Mosher of PhillyVoice, but Carter’s untapped physical potential will keep him in the running. Fourth-round rookie Ty Robinson was an impressive pass-rusher at Nebraska, but he will have to prove himself against his new teammates this summer before he gets a crack at the rest of the league.

NFC Contract Details: Golston, Giants, Bucs, Cowboys, Cards, Panthers, Seahawks, Eagles

March 25th, 2025 at 2:37pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are more contract details from some recently agreed-upon contracts around the NFC in free agency:

Poona Ford, DT (Rams). Three years, $27.6MM. While not quite as high as the $30MM initial report, Ford’s contract includes $15.6MM guaranteed at signing, via OverTheCap. This comes after Ford played the 2024 season for $1.79MM in total. The Rams guaranteed $3.75MM of Ford’s $5MM 2026 base salary at signing. If on Los Angeles’ roster by Day 5 of the ’26 league year, Ford will see the other $1.5MM lock in. If the 29-year-old DT is still on L.A.’s roster on Day 3 of the 2027 league year, a $2.25MM roster bonus is due.
Chauncey Golston, DE (Giants). Three years, $18MM. This is slightly less than initially reported, but The Athletic’s Dan Duggan indicates it comes with $12MM fully guaranteed. The Giants guaranteed Golston’s 2025 and ’26 money.
Baron Browning, LB (Cardinals). Two years, $15MM. Receiving $10MM guaranteed at signing, Browning will see part of his 2026 base salary guaranteed. $2MM of the trade pickup’s $4.39MM 2026 base is locked in at signing, per Cards Wire’s Howard Balzer, who adds a $2MM roster bonus is due on Day 5 of the 2026 league year. The bonus is not guaranteed at signing. If Browning reaches eight sacks in 2025, his 2026 base salary increases by $2MM. Five sacks represents Browning’s highwater mark thus far.
Patrick Jones, LB (Panthers). Two years, $15MM. This is down from the initial report as well, but the ex-Vikings rotational rusher will see $10.25MM guaranteed, The Athletic’s Joe Person tweets. Another $4MM is available via performance-based incentives, per OverTheCap.
Evan Brown, G (Cardinals). Two years, $11.44MM. The Cardinals are guaranteeing Brown $6MM at signing, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets. If the veteran interior O-lineman is on Arizona’s roster by Day 5 of the 2026 league year, he is due a $500K roster bonus.
Akeem Davis-Gaither, LB (Cardinals). Two years, $10MM. Arizona is guaranteeing Davis-Gaither $5MM at signing, Wilson tweets. The veteran linebacker’s $4.39MM 2026 base salary is nonguaranteed, giving the Cardinals an out after one year.
Anthony Nelson, LB (Buccaneers). Two years, $10MM. The Bucs guaranteed Nelson $5.5MM to re-sign, Wilson tweets. Tampa Bay included a $500K roster bonus due on Day 5 of the 2026 league year.
Markquese Bell, S/LB (Cowboys). Three years, $9MM. Bell will be guaranteed $6.2MM at signing, Wilson adds; this covers the young defender’s signing bonus and 2025 and ’26 base salaries.
Jamie Gillan, P (Giants). Three years, $9MM. Down a bit from initial reports, Gillan’s deal includes $4MM guaranteed, Duggan adds. The deal includes $1.2MM via incentives.
Solomon Thomas, DL (Cowboys). Two years, $6MM. The Cowboys guaranteed the former No. 3 overall pick $3MM, Wilson tweets. That covers a signing bonus and his 2025 base salary. An additional $2MM is available through playing time- and sack-based incentives.
Josh Jones, OL (Seahawks). One year, $4MM. Jones will see $3MM guaranteed at signing, per OverTheCap. This is up from his $665K guarantee with the Ravens last year.
Jimmy Garoppolo, QB (Rams). One year, $3MM. The Rams secured Garoppolo for a second season, doing so despite authorizing a pay cut. Garoppolo played out a one-year, $3.19MM deal in 2024. Like in 2024, Garoppolo’s deal is fully guaranteed.
Josh Uche, DE (Eagles). One year, $1.92MM. The Eagles guaranteed Uche $1.25MM, the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane tweets. $500K in sack-based incentives are available. Uche played for $3MM in 2024. Despite this low-value deal, Philly included four void years.

Eagles, Josh Uche Agree To Deal

March 13th, 2025 at 9:35am CST by Adam La Rose

In need of new depth along the edge, the Eagles will look to Josh Uche. The former Patriot and Chief has a one-year deal in place with Philadelphia, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.

Uche flashed potential at times during his New England tenure. The former second-rounder recorded 11.5 sacks in 2022, but he was never able to carve out a anything more than a rotational role, instead operating as a third-down specialist. Uche regularly found himself attached to trade talk, and in 2024 a deal was made.

The Michigan product was dealt to Kansas City as a rental addition for the second half of the campaign. Uche wound up making six appearances with the Chiefs, but he saw a snap share of only 22%. After failing to record a sack and producing only one QB pressure, the team elected not to use him during the playoffs. Uche will now look to compete for a regular role with the Eagles.

To no surprise, Philadelphia was unable to retain Josh Sweat. The top edge rusher on the market landed a four-year deal with the Cardinals including $41MM in guarantees. His loss will be felt after a strong regular season in 2024 and a memorable performance in Super Bowl LIX. Brandon Graham, meanwhile, is dealing with another triceps tear as he contemplates retirement.

Presuming Graham hangs up his cleats, his absence (along with Sweat’s) will leave plenty of snaps available along the edge. Uche, 26, will provide upside as a potential sack artist, although his underwhelming Chiefs spell will temper expectations upon arrival in Philadelphia. To say the least, the Eagles will hope this deal pans out better than last offseason’s lucrative free agent deal for Bryce Huff.

In addition to Huff, the Super Bowl champions have 2023 first-rounder Nolan Smith and 2024 third-round selection Jalyx Hunt on the books. Uche’s ability to fit in with that group (one which, given general manager Howie Roseman‘s track record, will likely include at least one draft addition next month) will determine his success in Philadelphia and his earning power in 2026.

Chiefs Acquire Josh Uche From Patriots

October 28th, 2024 at 10:10pm CST by Adam La Rose

Josh Uche is indeed on the move. The fifth-year edge rusher is being traded from the Patriots to the Chiefs, as first reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo.

Kansas City will send New England a 2026 sixth-round pick, Rapoport adds. That level of compensation comes as little surprise given Uche’s status as a pending free agent. He was a healthy scratch yesterday, an indication that a trade was possible. After the Patriots elected not to pull of a trade in his case last year, he will now be on the move.

Nearing the end of his rookie contract last year, Uche drew trade interest and the Pats nearly worked out a deal ahead of the deadline. Instead, he remained in place and ultimately re-signed on a one-year deal. That pact included a base salary of only $1.3MM, and with much of that total already being paid out this will be a very low-cost addition on the Chiefs’ part. The league’s only remaining undefeated team will now have another rotational option along the edge.

Uche’s best year came in 2022 when he posted 11.5 sacks. Considering he only logged a snap share of 38% that season, expectations were raised for continued production or at least a heavier workload moving forward. Neither has turned out to be the case, with the Michigan product totaling five sacks since the start of last season and logging a similar snap count to the earlier portion of his career. He will be viewed as a third-down specialist upon arrival with Kansas City.

The Chiefs have of course continued to rely on Chris Jones as a foundational contributor in the pass-rush department. Along the edge, the team has Mike Danna, Charles Omenihu along with recent draftees George Karlaftis and Felix Anudike-Uzomah. Uche will aim to carve out a role as part of that group while attempting to boost his free agent stock. For Kansas City, meanwhile, this move marks another midseason addition (following the DeAndre Hopkins trade) as a third straight Super Bowl title is sought.

The Chiefs entered Monday near the bottom of the league in terms of cap space, so any further moves could be challenging unless they were also of the short-term, low-cost variety. Kansas City has been linked to pursuing a cornerback in the wake of Jaylen Watson‘s (likely season-ending) injury, and it will be interesting to see if anything happens at that position before the November 5 deadline.

Kansas City currently sits 22nd in the NFL with 15 sacks through seven games. Improving in that department could provide a notable boost to the league’s No. 5 scoring defense, and Uche will look to chip in on that front. At 2-6 on the year, meanwhile, New England could be a team to watch from a seller’s perspective regarding further moves.

Patriots’ Josh Uche Inactive For Week 8

October 28th, 2024 at 10:39am CST by Adam La Rose

Josh Uche is once again the subject of trade speculation as the November 5 deadline approaches. As uncertainty looms over his future, he found himself inactive for the Patriots’ Week 8 contest.

“It was just a healthy scratch and we also [aim] to put the best team out there that gives us the best chance to win,” head coach Jerod Mayo said when addressing the decision (via Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald).

Uche, to little surprise, is drawing trade interest. That was also the case last year, and the Patriots came close to working out a deal which would have sent him to a new team for the remainder of his rookie contract. Instead, the former second-rounder stayed in New England before signing a one-year deal to keep him in place for 2024. Uche had appeared in the Patriots’ first seven games, recording a pair of sacks and five pressures.

It will be interesting to see if the Michigan product’s benching is an indication of a trade being worked on. As Kyed notes, Uche is viewed as New England’s top trade candidate based on his status as a pending free agent who would not be expensive to acquire. His base salary for the year is only $1.3MM, so nearly every team in the league could easily absorb the prorated remainder of that figure in a trade.

Uche had a strong season in 2022 with 11.5 sacks, but he has not developed into a three-down contributor for New England. Any team pursuing a deal would no doubt view him as a third-down specialist capable of chipping in on a rotational basis. A part-time workload is usually in store for Anfernee Jennings, who took on additional snaps in Uche’s absence. He would be in line for an increased role moving forward in the event a trade involving Uche were to be worked out.

Patriots’ Josh Uche Drawing Trade Interest; K.J. Osborn Could Be Available?

October 26th, 2024 at 8:46pm CST by Adam La Rose

One year ago, Josh Uche was the subject of considerable trade interest. With the Patriots set up to operate as sellers in 2024, the fifth-year edge rusher is again a candidate to be dealt.

New England reportedly came very close to working out a trade agreement in Uche’s case last October. He wound up remaining with the team, though, playing out the rest of his rookie contract. The 26-year-old (like many other Patriots, especially on defense) would up staying in place this offseason by signing a one-year deal. As a pending free agent for the second straight year, he would again represent a low-cost pickup for a contending team.

To little surprise, then, Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network report Uche’s name is “floating around the trade market.” The former second-rounder is attached to a base salary of only $1.3MM, and any acquiring team would take on a prorated portion of that figure. Especially as a rental at that financial cost, Uche could be an attractive target to any number of suitors. Expectations would likely be tempered in terms of role and production in the event of a deal, though.

Uche’s snap shares have ranged between 30-38% during his career. Never known for his run defense, the Michigan product flashed potential as sack artist in 2022 with a career-high 11.5 in that department. The following season resulted in only three sacks, however, and Uche has managed a pair so far this year. With the Patriots sitting at 1-6, they could be inclined to take a late-round pick as a means of giving him a fresh start on a team willing to add him as a rotational depth piece. Interestingly, Uche changed agents this summer, so being dealt to a new team could alter the nature of talks on a contract keeping him in place beyond 2024.

The receiver position has become a talking point recently in New England, and veteran Kendrick Bourne has been added to the list of potential trade candidates. A move returning him to San Francisco in particular would be sensible, but the 29-year-old said earlier this week he prefers to remain with the Patriots. Younger members of the WR room have expressed frustration with their situations, though, and that includes K.J. Osborn. The free agent addition has seen his playing time drop since the start of the season, something which is no doubt not sitting well.

Osborn, 27, posted consistent secondary production from 2021-23 with the Vikings. He only managed a one-year deal worth $4MM on the open market, and that pact includes a base salary of just $1.18MM. The NFL Network piece notes Osborn is thus a likelier trade candidate than Bourne as teams continue to sort out a wideout market no longer featuring Davante Adams, Amari Cooper or DeAndre Hopkins. It will be interesting to see how first-year general manager Eliot Wolf and rookie head coach Jerod Mayo handle the Patriots’ trade chips in advance of the November 5 deadline.

Patriots’ Josh Uche Changes Agents

July 8th, 2024 at 8:57am CST by Adam La Rose

The Patriots have made it a priority to retain several players this offseason, and that includes Josh Uche. The fifth-year edge rusher could have tested the market in free agency, but instead he took a one-year deal to remain in New England in 2024.

Uche had more lucrative offers waiting from outside suitors, but the 25-year-old elected to play on a prove-it contract worth a base value of $3MM. He can earn up to $8MM via incentives, and reaching them would also position him as one of the more attractive free agents in 2025. Perhaps keeping that in mind, Uche recently changed representation.

The Michigan alum now has Drew Rosenhaus as his agent, as noted by ESPN’s Mike Reiss. Rosenhaus initially represented him at the start of his career, but that was not the case by the time he took his one-year Patriots deal. Now, a change back to Rosenhaus has taken place ahead of a 2024 campaign which will have significant financial implications for Uche.

The former second-rounder enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2022, posting 11.5 sacks. He remained a rotational player this past season, though, and his pass rush production took a step back (three sacks, 15 pressures). Uche – who has not developed into a strong run defender at the NFL level – has logged snap shares between 30% and 38% in each of his Patriots campaigns, and it will be interesting to see if he earns an increased workload this season under Jerod Mayo.

Leading up to the 2023 trade deadline, Uche drew considerable interest and the Patriots nearly worked out a deal. He later made it clear he wished to remain in New England, something which will be the case for at least one more season. Uche’s performance as a pending free agent for the second time in his career will be worth watching closely, and he will approach another Patriots deal or one sending him to a new team with a familiar face representing him.

Patriots, Josh Uche Agree To Terms

March 12th, 2024 at 2:42pm CST by Adam La Rose

Transition-tagging Kyle Dugger and re-signing Kendrick Bourne and Michael Onwenu, the Patriots are doing well to retain their own. Another player mentioned in 2023 trade talks is sticking around under Jerod Mayo.

Josh Uche will stay with the Patriots on a one-year deal, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo report. After breaking through for a productive 2022 season, Uche took a step back last year. But the Pats will be the team that authorizes the Michigan alum’s ‘prove it’ pact. Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated adds the contract is worth $3MM but has a maximum value of $8MM via incentives.

As the NFL Network report notes, Uche had “much more on the table elsewhere” with respect to interest from outside suitors. Tom Pelissero passes along that one of those offers was worth $15MM over two years, including $11MM guaranteed. Instead, Uche decided to stick in New England on a lesser contract.

The former second-rounder showed considerable potential as a sack artist in 2022, posting 11.5 sacks. He has not developed into a regular on defense due to deficiencies against the run, but teams are regularly willing to spend for sack production.

Instead of trying to carve out a larger role with a new team, Uche will prepare for a fifth New England campaign. The 25-year-old saw his sack total drop to three in 2023, with his QB pressures also falling from 25 to 15. He was limited to 15 games last year (as was the case in 2022), and injuries were a factor taken into consideration on the trade front. In spite of that, New England came very close to working out a trade. In the end, no swap martialized, and Uche later confirmed his desire for a Patriots re-up.

The 240-pounder is undersized compared to most edge rushers, something which has been a factor in determining his playing time. Uche has seen snap shares between 30% and 38% throughout his career, and the potential classification as a part-time contributor no doubt worked against him. Nevertheless, Uche has elected to turn down more money to play under Mayo in 2024. Team and player could reap the rewards if a productive campaign ensues.

Sam Robinson contributed to this post.

Mutual Interest Between Patriots, Josh Uche On New Deal

November 19th, 2023 at 4:48pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Patriots were quiet at the trade deadline despite having a number of pending free agents which garnered attention from contending teams. One of them – edge rusher Josh Uche – appeared to be on his way out of New England. Instead, he may remain in place beyond 2023.

Uche, who is set to see his rookie contract expire in March, was frequently named as a trade candidate in the build-up to last month’s deadline. Compared to fellow 2019 draftees Kyle Dugger and Michael Onwenu, he was listed as the player likeliest to be dealt. Advanced talks took place, and the Seahawks were named as an interested team, but no trade was hammered out. Now, Uche is due to reach free agency for the first time in his career.

The 25-year-old confirmed, via ESPN’s Mike Reiss, that head coach Bill Belichick was transparent about the team’s discussions regarding a trade which would have sent him elsewhere. With that having been avoided, though, it will be interesting to see how large of a workload he logs down the stretch. The former second-rounder has seen a 33% snap share this season, a slight step back from his playing time in his breakout 2022 campaign. Uche posted 11.5 of his 17.5 career sacks in the latter year.

For that reason, it came as something of a surprise when reports emerged that no extension talks had taken place as of last month. Uche has missed a pair of games this season, though, and posted only a pair of sacks to date. Those factors could complicate his value on the open market, along with how teams view him with respect to holding three-down potential or simply being a sack artist. In any case, interest in a second Patriots contract appears to be mutual.

“I want to be here,” Uche said, adding he does not expect negotiations to start until the offseason. “From my conversations with [Belichick], they want me here. It’s just all about making sure all the pieces fit together, and sometimes it’s out of our control, and then sometimes it just takes time.”

The Patriots are currently scheduled to have the second-most cap space in the NFL in 2024, so the team will have considerable spending power on deals for outside free agents or re-ups with internal players. It will be interesting to see if an agreement can be worked out in the coming months to keep Uche in New England, or if the team will be prepared to let him walk in free agency after not dealing him away mid-season.

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