FOXBORO — Josh Uche wants to be where he’s wanted. He’d like to be wanted in the place he’s played since being drafted at the end of the second round in 2020.
But, as he heads into a contract year, he knows that until a new deal is signed, there’s no guarantee he’ll be sticking in New England. “This is the team that took a chance on me when I know a lot of other teams didn’t know what to possibly do with me or what I was coming out of college,” Uche said Thursday. “But this is the team that developed me into the player I’ve become. “This is the place I’ve called home the last four years. I’m comfortable. I know the area. I’ve got family out here, and I love it out here. And I’ve been able to make myself at home. I would love to be here. But at the end of the day, I understand it’s a business, and business is business. So no hard feelings, I guess.” Uche did admit to reporters following Day 2 of training camp practice that his representatives had been in contact with the Patriots about a possible extension. But he emphasized the fact that he lets his agents handle those discussions, even adding that he didn’t want to know all the nitty-gritty details of those conversations with the Patriots. But those conversations have taken place, apparently. Makes sense. The Patriots might want to get aggressive in locking up their young pass-rusher coming off an 11.5-sack season. Based on his first two days of camp, Uche looks like he could be poised to have another big statistical year that could lead to an equally-large payday should he get to free agency. Uchenna Nwosu of the Seahawks, whose highest sack total in one season is 9.5, agreed to a deal that will pay him nearly $20 million per year.
-Phil Perry Patriots Insider
