Patriots' Josh Uche Reveals Reason For 'Hometown Discount'

Josh Uche took a massive hometown discount to return to the New England Patriots, turning down far more lucrative offers from other teams.

Josh Uche had a chance to cash in this offseason, but ultimately, he decided to stay where he feels at home.

The 25-year-old ended up re-signing with the New England Patriots on a one-year deal worth just $3 million. Considering Uche had 11.5 sacks in 2022, returning to New England for so cheap seems like a strange choice.

However, Uche realized that no amount of money can replace a feeling of comfort. In a video released on the team's social media pages, Uche explained that his history with the Patriots and a promising future under coach Jerod Mayo are what ultimately swayed him to come back.

cred: USA Today Sports

"The Patriots were the organization that gave me a chance in the NFL," Uche said. "It's like family. It feels like home, and there's nowhere else I'd rather be than home. So I think that was my main reason -- loyalty, family and love.

"Coach Mayo is developing a lot of tough young men, and I feel like it's something I just want to continue to be a part of. I think it's just going to be great. I think the future is bright. I'm just happy to be home and get back to doing what I do best."

Happy to be home.@_Uche35 on why he returned to New England. pic.twitter.com/6rpSk5U7tk

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) March 14, 2024

According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, Uche turned down multiple offers from other teams, including one that would have paid him $15 million ($11 million guaranteed) over two years. Again, though, he valued continuity above a short-term payout.

Despite his great 2022 season, Uche has still been a situational player for the Patriots. He has started just three games in four seasons and has never played 40 percent of defensive snaps in a season. The Michigan product still has 18.5 career sacks, but over half of that total came in one season.

Josh Uche Turned Down More Money to Stay with Patriots?

Perhaps under Mayo - who coached Uche and other linebackers before his promotion - and new defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington, the fifth-year pass-rusher will see a rise in snap count. For now, though, Uche feels comfortable betting on himself in 2024.

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