As the Detroit Lions look for an edge rusher in the trade market, a surprising healthy scratch on Sunday has fueled speculation.
It’s evident that the Lions are seeking an edge rusher following Aidan Hutchinson’s likely season-ending leg injury, which may delay his return until the Super Bowl. With the Nov. 5 trade deadline approaching, it seems a deal is inevitable, and head coach Dan Campbell suggested the search has intensified this past week.
While a significant acquisition like Maxx Crosby or Myles Garrett appears unrealistic at this stage, an intriguing decision by an AFC team on Sunday has caught attention regarding a potential trade.
The New England Patriots listed edge rusher Josh Uche as inactive for their matchup against the New York Jets. He is not reported to be injured or ill before the game (he would have needed to be designated with an illness if that were the case). Therefore, he is considered a healthy scratch unless stated otherwise.
Josh Uche is an ideal trade candidate for the Lions.
In their pursuit of an edge rusher for the 2024 free agency, the Lions were easily connected to Uche. He reportedly opted to sign a one-year, $3 million deal to return to the Patriots instead of accepting more lucrative offers.
Given the Patriots’ struggles this season, Uche appeared on our list of potential trade targets for the Lions following injuries to both Marcus Davenport and Hutchinson.
Uche has maintained 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 recorded two sacks and 13 pressures (per Pro Football Focus), with a top-30 pass-rushing grade (72.7) among edge defenders entering Week 8.
Uche has a base salary of $1.3 million for this season and will be a free agent again in March. Thus, acquiring him now would be a bargain, and the possibility of re-signing him in the offseason could be on the table.
Only time will reveal the implications of Uche’s healthy scratch on Sunday. However, it strongly suggests that trade discussions have increased around him, and it would be surprising if the Lions aren’t heavily involved in those talks.
