The New England Patriots traded up into the second round to select Michigan outside linebacker Josh Uche with the 60th overall pick. The Patriots originally weren’t set to pick until 71st overall, but instead they thrust themselves up the draft board for Uche.
The Patriots gave up picks No. 71 and 98 in exchange for the Baltimore Ravens’ selections at 60th and 129th overall.
New England already made one selection in the second round at 37th overall where they picked Lenoir-Rhyne safety Kyle Dugger.
Uche put together and impressive senior season, with 35 tackles, 8.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. He was in a rotation with a handful of talented linebackers until his senior year. He could break into New England’s rotation, too, in large part due to his impressive abilities as a pass-rusher.
Bill Belichick drafted Michigan outside linebacker Chase Winovich in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft — Belichick must have been pleased with what he got out of the product. Uche will join Winovich, John Simon, Brandon Copeland and Shilique Calhoun at the OLB/EDGE position. There are plenty of snaps up for grabs with New England seeing Kyle Van Noy and Jamie Collins in free agency. Uche will need some work to get comfortable on every down, but he may begin his role as a situational third-down pass-rusher for the Patriots.
