Looking back at the Jerod Mayo era in New England isn't something Patriots fans particularly enjoy, and for the most part, it makes a lot of sense. It wasn't the franchise's best time, as Robert Kraft made many mistakes that inevitably led to a disappointing 2024 season.
Mayo isn't credited with doing much successfully during his tenure, but there is one move he seems to have gotten right: trading linebacker Joshua Uche. Although it received some backlash at the time, it's clear in the years since that it was the right move.
Besides his standout year in 2022 when he logged 27 combined tackles, nine for a loss, 14 quarterback hits, two forced fumbles, and 11.5 sacks, Uche hasn't come close to replicating that performance.
That's led him to spend time with the Chiefs and the Eagles, and he has now signed a contract with the Dolphins for the 2026 season. But he will need to have a bounce-back year to prove his worth, or things could go downhill fast for the Michigan alum.
Jerod Mayo might not have gotten a lot right as the Patriots head coach, but this move has proven to be otherwise
There are plenty of moves in the history of the New England Patriots that proved a trade was the right decision, as seen in how the player continued their career. It happened a lot under Bill Belichick, and it looks like Mayo can be added to the list of players.
Besides trading Matthew Judon, which looks even better in hindsight, Uche's struggles to gain traction outside of Foxboro further prove that the Mayo regime was spot on with their assessment.
Maybe what the Chiefs sent in return wasn't the best, since it was just for a sixth-round draft pick, but that's far more than what they could have gotten had they kept him around for another season, and he still didn't perform at the level they needed. He likely would've just been cut instead.
He's now hoping to revive his career in familiar territory, as he signed a one-year deal with the Dolphins earlier this month. He should have a chance to prove his value to the team, since they're undergoing massive changes from the top down, and perhaps another change of scenery will help him accomplish that.
Regardless, the decision to trade him is looking better by the day, and it's something fans should give Mayo more credit for.