3 Green Bay Packers Free Agent Targets Before Training Camp 1
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Free-agent pass rusher Von Miller.
Former Buffalo Bills edge rusher Von Miller is chasing one more ring before his retirement, and could find his chance with an NFC contender.
Miller is still a free agent after leaving the Washington Commanders, making him one of the most accomplished edge rushers on the open market. Reporter Garrett Podell of CBS Sports predicts that Miller could be an important piece for the Green Bay Packers, providing an insurance policy as star edge rusher Micah Parsons recovers from a torn ACL.
Von Miller Could Help Packers Replace Micah Parsons
As Podell noted, there were high hopes in Washington when Miller signed last offseason, but the team’s season fell off the rails as Jayden Daniels struggled with injuries and the team fell apart.
“Coach Dan Quinn moved on from both offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. Washington finished with the 22nd-ranked scoring offense (20.9 points per game) and the 27th-ranked scoring defense (26.5) in a year that ended with a 5-12 record,” Podell noted.
It was not for lack of production on Miller’s part, the CBS Sports writer added.
“However, Miller did his best at age 36: he led Washington with 9.0 sacks,” Podell wrote. “His 138.5 career sacks are the most by an active player, so even at the age of 37 in 2026, he can be of value even though he’s far from his Super Bowl 50 MVP-level prime.”
Podell suggested that Miller would be an “ideal addition” for the Packers as they look to hold the defense together until Parsons can return from his knee injury.
“Once he does, Miller could be a situational pass rusher for the Packers, a team whose +1500 odds to win the Super Bowl are the seventh-best in the NFL, according to DraftKings Sportsbook,” Podell wrote. “Even though Green Bay is known as a team that can be free agent-averse, general manager Brian Gutekunst signed veteran defensive tackle Javon Hargrave to hold down the fort until Devonte Wyatt can return from his injury. Miller would be a similar signing.”
The Packers are a popular pick to win the NFC North and could be a Super Bowl contender, though would face some stiff competition in a loaded conference. Miller’s signing could add some important depth to the Packers and would likely come at an affordable price given the former All-Pro edge rusher’s age.
Bills Making Changes on Defense
The Bills are expected to undergo some of their own changes on defense with the arrival of new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard. He has promised a more aggressive approach to pressuring opposing quarterbacks, and the Bills have already seen changes with the departures of core players like A.J. Epenesa and Matt Milano.
NFL.com analyst Chad Reuter predicted the Bills would make a big addition to their pass-rushing group in this month’s NFL draft, taking Texas A&M edge rusher Cashius Howell.
“This Bills’ new-look defense could use Howell’s speed off the edge,” Reuter wrote. “Opponents will forget all about his short arms (30 ¼ inches) when he becomes a major pass-rush factor as his rookie campaign progresses.”