It's been over a month since the Philadelphia Eagles won Super Bowl 59 over the Kansas City Chiefs. NFL free agency has since begun, and the Eagles have done more losing than winning, watching the likes of cornerback Isaiah Rodgers, defensive tackle Milton Williams, and pass rusher Josh Sweat leave the City of Brotherly Love for new opportunities.
As far as additions go, the Eagles' lone signing to start free agency was adding veteran running back A.J. Dillon as Saquon Barkley's backup set of legs. As solid as Dillon can be, Philadelphia fans were hoping to see a busier start to the offseason after capturing the Lombardi Trophy.
Fortunately, the fanbase's wish was granted on Thursday.
Eagles Sign Joshua Uche After Losing Josh Sweat in Free Agency
Needing to address their pass rushing depth, the Eagles have signed veteran defender Joshua Uche to a one-year contract, according to NFL insider Adam Schefter. Uche's addition will also help soften the blow that could be created by Brandon Graham's potential retirement.
Uche, 26, was drafted 60th overall by the New England Patriots in 2020. The former Michigan Wolverine didn't make many waves until experiencing his breakout performance in 2022, finishing his third NFL campaign with 23 solo tackles and 11.5 sacks despite not starting in any of his 15 appearances.
Unfortunately, Uche came back down to earth the following year, mustering only eight solo tackles and 3.0 sacks in 15 games. Even though he began the 2024 season with the Patriots, he didn't stick around for the full year as they traded the Miami, FL native to the Kansas City Chiefs before the trade deadline in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick.
Uche's supporters hoped that joining the Chiefs would get him back on track, but that wasn't the case. The 6-foot-1, 240-pound pass rusher only generated seven solo tackles without a sack across 87 defensive snaps in six regular-season appearances before being kept on the sidelines for Kansas City's entire playoff run.
While his Chiefs tenure was disappointing, sometimes teams just aren't the right fit for a player. There's a chance that Uche could be better suited for the Eagles, who can offer him a bigger role due to a combination of Sweat's exit and Graham's uncertain future.
It's also worth noting that his 2024 Pro Football Focus pass rush grade with the Patriots (72.7) was much better than his mark with the Chiefs (57.4). If he can return to his New England form with the Eagles, Nick Sirianni's defense might not lose a step despite any departures.
It's going to take some time before Philadelphia fans know what kind of impact Uche can make on defense. In the meantime, the Eagles will continue with NFL free agency, holding the best Super Bowl 60 odds (+650) on FanDuel Sportsbook.
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