Breakout Patriots Pass-Rusher Named Top Vikings’ Prospect
The Minnesota Vikings will soon be in the market for pass-rushers and a good fit is currently languishing in the AFC East on the final year of his rookie deal.
Brad Spielberger of Pro Football Focus on Friday, December 1, named New England Patriots edge-rusher Josh Uche a top free-agent prospect for the Vikings in 2024 as they face potentially significant turnover at the position.
Minnesota still has a big decision to make on pending free agent Danielle Hunter and, beyond that, needs to add a ton of talent at edge defender to bolster this pass rush and enable the front four to get home without blitzing at a league-leading rate.
Uche has been remarkably efficient rushing the passer since a breakout 2022 season, but he is still logging around only 25 snaps a game as more of a rotational player. Uche has notched at least one quarterback pressure in every game this season on his way to a 17.7% pressure rate, picking up where he left off last season with 56 pressures on 285 pass-rush reps.
Josh Uche Produced Monster Campaign for Patriots in 2022
GettyEdge-rusher Josh Uche of the New England Patriots is set to become a free agent in 2024.
New England selected Uche in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft out of Michigan (No. 60 overall). He is playing on the final season of his four-year, $5.4 million rookie contract and is set to hit free agency next spring unless the Patriots use the franchise tag to keep him, which is unlikely given his rotational role on the defense.
However, Uche appeared ready after last season to take a step into a larger role.The 25-year-old outside linebacker produced a career-year highlighted by 14 QB hits, 11.5 sacks and 2 forced fumbles across 15 games, per Pro Football Reference.
Uche has just 2.0 sacks in nine games played this season, though has continued to apply pressure at a high rate, which doesn’t show up on the stat sheet but does create a meaningful impact on the game week in and week out.
