It's very clear the Detroit Lions are in the market for an edge rusher after losing Aidan Hutchinson to what is most likely a season-ending leg injury (shy of a speculated return for the Super Bowl). It seems like a matter of when, not if, something is done before the Nov. 5 trade deadline, and head coach Dan Campbell hinted at the search ramping up some this past week.
A bold move for someone like Maxx Crosby or Myles Garrett is basically off the table at this point, if it was ever in play at all. But an interesting move by at AFC team on Sunday has instantly opened eyes about a looming trade.
The New England Patriots listed edge rusher Josh Uche as an inactive for their game Sunday against the New York Jets. He is not known to be injured, or having fallen some sort of ill late before Sunday (he'd have had to be declared with an illness if that was the case). So he's a healthy scratch unless it becomes known otherwise
Josh Uche is a healthy scratch today.
— Mike Giardi (@MikeGiardi) October 27, 2024
Joshua Uche among the Patriots’ inactive players today. He has garnered interest from other teams as the Nov. 5 trade deadline approaches.
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) October 27, 2024
Josh Uche is an obviously ideal trade target for the Lions
As they looked for an edge rusher in 2024 free agency, it was easy to tie the Lions to Uche. He reportedly chose to sign a one year, $3 million deal to go back to the Patriots, over more lucrative offers.
As such, and with the Patriots not in line to win many games this season, Uche made our lists of potential trade targets for the Lions after the injuries to both Marcus Davenport and Hutchinson.
Uche has continued his role as a situational pass rusher for New England this season, playing 35 percent of their defensive snaps over seven games before Sunday. He has two sacks and 13 pressures (according to Pro Football Focus), with a top-30 pass rushing grade (72.7) among edge defenders from PFF entering Week 8.
Uche has a $1.3 million base salary for this year, before he'll be a free agent again in March. So he'd be a bargain acquisition now (to put it mildly), and the idea of re-signing him in the offseason would certainly be in play.
Time will tell what Uche being a healthy scratch on Sunday means. But it strongly indicates trade talks have ramped up around him, and if the Lions aren't prominent in those conversations it'd be a huge surprise.