Von Miller Joins Washington Commanders in Bold Move to Boost Pass Rush
The Washington Commanders are making headlines by signing veteran defensive end Von Miller in a calculated move to strengthen their pass rush and sharpen their defensive finishing power in tight games.
The 36-year-old Miller, who shared photos of himself wearing a Washington jersey on Instagram Wednesday night, is expected to join the team on a one-year deal, pending a physical. With 129.5 career sacks, Miller ranks 16th on the NFL’s all-time sack list, bringing both experience and firepower to the Commanders’ defense.
Over the past three seasons with the Buffalo Bills, Miller tallied 14 sacks — eight in his first year and six in his last. But Washington is banking on Miller’s 2021 magic, when he was the missing piece in the Los Angeles Rams’ Super Bowl run. After joining the Rams via a midseason trade, Miller logged five regular-season sacks and added four more in the playoffs, helping to secure a championship.
During his legendary 10-year stretch with the Denver Broncos, Miller racked up 110.5 sacks, earned seven All-Pro selections (including three first-team nods), and made eight Pro Bowl appearances. Most notably, he was crowned Super Bowl 50 MVP after terrorizing opposing quarterbacks on the game’s biggest stage.
Interestingly, Commanders GM Adam Peters played a key role in Miller’s early NFL journey. Peters was part of the Broncos’ front office when they picked Miller in the first round of the 2011 draft. He later moved to the San Francisco 49ers in 2016, but the connection clearly runs deep.
Last season, the Commanders' defense notched 43 total sacks, ranking 11th in the NFL. But cracks showed in high-pressure moments: their four-man rush produced just 22 sacks (26th in the league), and they managed only five fourth-quarter sacks, ranking them 30th. As a result, opposing quarterbacks posted a 74.8 fourth-quarter QBR — the fourth-highest allowed in the league.
In their offseason search for help on the edge, Washington explored options like DeMarcus Lawrence and Joey Bosa. In the draft, they passed on early pass rushers and instead selected offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr. in the first round and cornerback Trey Amos in the second.
To further reshape their defense, the Commanders brought in veteran linemen including Deatrich Wise Jr. and Jacob Martin, and added linebacker Frankie Luvu, who had a career-high eight sacks and earned second-team All-Pro honors last season.
Buffalo released Miller on March 9, clearing $8.4 million in cap space. He had been set to account for $23.9 million, the second-highest cap hit on the roster behind only quarterback Josh Allen.
However, Miller’s stint with the Bills was turbulent. After signing a six-year, $120 million contract in 2022, he started strong with eight sacks in 11 games, but tore his right ACL on November 24, 2022. Reflecting back during 2024 training camp, Miller admitted he “probably shouldn’t have played” the 2023 season while recovering. He finished that year with zero sacks and just three tackles in 12 games.
Adding to his struggles, Miller was suspended for four games in 2024 (Weeks 5–8) for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy. This stemmed from allegations that he assaulted his pregnant girlfriend during the Bills’ 2023 bye week in suburban Dallas. Miller turned himself in, was released on bond, and although charges were never filed, the NFL conducted a separate investigation.
Despite the recent challenges, Washington is betting that the future Hall of Famer still has enough left in the tank to make an impactful return, potentially rewriting the ending of his storied career in the nation’s capital.