The Philadelphia Eagles discovered a technique that works in 2024 and plan to replicate it in 2025, dubbed the “Diamond in the Rough” approach to free agent signings.
Last year, the Eagles signed linebacker Zack Baun to a one-year, $1.6 million contract, and he went on to become an NFL All-Pro and Super Bowl winner, earning a three-year, $51 million contract this offseason.
The Athletic’s Mike Sando identified Josh Uche, a 2025 free agent signee, as the Eagles’ potential next Baun. Uche, who has 11.5 sacks for the New England Patriots in 2022, signed a one-year contract worth $1.92 million on March 13.
Uche’s role on the defense will be to replace Super Bowl hero Josh Sweat, who led the team with 8.5 sacks in 2024 before signing a four-year, $76.4 million free agent contract with the Arizona Cardinals on March 10.
“Philly made some interesting low-cost bets this offseason, adding Josh Uche and Azeez Ojulari to their pass rush, Kenyon Green to their offensive line and A.J. Dillon to their offensive backfield,” Sando tweeted on Sunday, April 3. “They struck gold last offseason, signing Baun to an inexpensive one-year contract. “Is one of these guys next?”
Midway through the 2024 season, the Patriots traded Uche to the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick.
Uche had a breakout season with the Patriots in 2022.
The Patriots selected Uche in the second round (60th overall) of the 2020 NFL draft after he recorded 8.5 sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss in his senior season at Michigan in 2019.
Uche was a rotational player throughout his stint with the Patriots, but he had a breakout season in 2022, recording 11.5 sacks in 15 games with zero starts despite playing only 33% of his team’s defensive snaps. He failed to deliver on that promise in 2023 and 2024, with only 7.0 sacks over the final two seasons.
The Eagles may also give Uche his first full-time start.
In his first five seasons in the NFL, he had only four starts in 64 career games.
Eagles have the NFL’s best interior defensive line.
Any edge rusher who plays for the Eagles this season can be confident that whoever lines up next to defensive tackle Jalen Carter will not face double teams.
With Carter, the Eagles have an advantage that no other club in the NFL can match: an NFL All-Pro and Super Bowl champion entering only his third season and not even in his prime. That may make things easier for any edge rusher.
Carter, the ninth overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft, has the opportunity to become the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history when he signs his first contract extension after the 2025 season.
“PROJECTION: #Eagles star defensive lineman Jalen Carter is projected to sign a 4-YEAR, $168 MILLION CONTRACT extension when he becomes eligible next off-season,” MLFootball said on its official X account on March 23. “Carter is only 23 years old and has already won the Super Bowl, been named an All-Pro, and played in the Pro Bowl. “It will be a historic transaction.”
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