Von Miller
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Von Miller isn't thinking about retirement just yet as he prepares for his first season with the Commanders.
Former Buffalo Bills edge rusher Von Miller is looking for one more ring, and could find it with the team that first brought him into the NFL.
Miller is still a free agent after spending last season with the Washington Commanders, but is expected to find a new team where he will remain a solid contributor. Though Miller is trending toward become a pass-rushing specialist rather than an every-down edge rusher, one outlet believes he could still play a meaningful role with the Denver Broncos.
As Travis Wakeman of The Sporting News noted, Miller has made it clear that he would like to finish his career with the Broncos, who drafted him just ahead of the Bills in the 2011 NFL draft. Wakeman noted that the Commanders struggled on both sides of the ball as they dropped to 5-12 last year, but Miller remained an important part of the defense.
“However, Miller did his best at age 36: he led Washington with 9.0 sacks,” Wakeman 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.”
Wakeman added that the Broncos already had a strong pass rush, but could use Miller as a specialist on the defensive line.
“The Broncos have one of the best pass-rushing groups in the league,” Wakeman wrote. “Led by Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper on the edge, Miller would just be used in certain situations at this point in his career, but with Jonah Elliss potentially switching to the inside, there could be room for that.”
Bills Looking for More Edge Rushing Help
Miller came to the Bills as one of the biggest free agent signings of the 2022 offseason, making an immediate impact that season before suffering a season-ending torn ACL on Thanksgiving night. Miller struggled to regain his athleticism in 2023, recording no sacks on the season, and had a bit of a rebound in 2024 before leaving the Bills.
The Bills have made some changes to their edge rushing group this offseason, parting ways with defensive end A.J. Epenesa and likely shifting some of their other players to new positions under defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard’s 3-4 scheme.
There could be more help on the way. NFL.com analyst Chad Reuter predicted the Bills would trade back to the No. 29 overall pick in the first round of this year’s NFL draft, where they would land 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.”
NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein noted that Howell has the potential to grow into a “plus starter” in the NFL.
“Bendy edge rusher with standout sack totals,” Zierlein wrote of Howell. “Burst and elusiveness are on Howell’s rush menu and he pairs it with a refreshing inside spin counter. Though threatening, his rush could use more cohesive sequencing and better hand work to fully unlock its potential.”