Getty

Washington Commanders pass rusher Von Miller after a January 4, 2025 game against the Philadelphia Eagles

The Cleveland Browns already employ Myles Garrett, the most prolific sack artist in the NFL who set the single-season record last year with 23 of them, and they can pair him with another prolific pass-rusher in 2026 on a low-risk, high-value contract.

Von Miller just turned 37 years old, and he isn’t the terror off the edge he once was as a seven-time All-Pro between 2011-18, but he remains a viable situational edge defender who can make opposing quarterbacks uncomfortable.

Miller has tallied 138.5 sacks over his 15 professional seasons (203 appearances), which makes him the active leader in that statistical category. He added nine sacks to that tally as a member of the Washington Commanders last year, where he appeared on 37 percent of the team’s defensive snaps across 17 games played. Miller tallied 36 QB pressures and 22 hurries across 420 snaps.

Spotrac projects Miller’s market value at $5.8 million in 2026 after he played last season for $6.1 million.

Browns Still Hunting Depth at Defensive End Following NFL Draft

GettyCleveland Browns pass-rusher Myles Garrett.

Cleveland had perhaps the best draft of all 32 teams in the league last weekend, but one place the team didn’t add was the pass-rush group.

The Browns owned the No. 6 pick and could have selected Rueben Bain Jr. of Miami in that spot to create a dynamic defensive end duo alongside Garrett. Instead, Cleveland traded down to No. 9 with the Kansas City Chiefs, where Bain also remained available.

However, general manager Andrew Berry decided instead to select Spencer Fano as the first offensive tackle/lineman off the board at a position of need. Cleveland added talent to the defense in a big way with the No. 58 overall selection in Round 2 via former Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren.

After that pick, the Browns turned their attention back to the offensive line and pass-catching corps, selecting two linemen and two tight ends following the acquisition of two wide receivers in KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston with pick Nos. 24 and 39 in Rounds 1 and 2, respectively.

Berry threw in a linebacker and a flier on hyper-athletic QB Taylen Green in Round 6 and called it a weekend.

Browns Rescinded Offer to Edge Defender AJ Epenesa Earlier in Offseason

GettyFormer Buffalo Bills defensive end AJ Epenesa.

Despite the Browns’ approach to their 2026 rookie class, the team is aware it needs more depth off the edge. That is why Cleveland offered former Buffalo Bills defensive end AJ Epenesa a $5 million deal earlier this offseason, before a bad physical derailed that free-agent transaction.

“Epenesa visited the Browns’ facility last Monday, per the NFL’s transaction wire, but the deal was not finalized,” ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi reported on March 29. “[He] was expected to add depth to the Browns’ defensive line rotation after Cameron Thomas signed with the Atlanta Falcons earlier this offseason.”

Epenesa was vastly more effective as a pass-rusher than a run defender last season, per advanced metrics provided by Pro Football Focus. Miller was essentially equal to Epenesa in pass-rush grade and a considerably better run defender.

Miller, despite being 10 years Epenesa’s senior, is also healthier and his projected cost is less than $1 million more than Cleveland was willing to pay Epenesa. All things considered, Miller may actually be a better value option than a healthy Epenesa would have proven as a stopgap solution for Cleveland’s defense in 2026.