The Washington Commanders made an epic move to solidify their status as Super Bowl contenders by signing Super Bowl MVP and 2-time Super Bowl champion edge rusher Von Miller on July 16, according to a post on X from NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero and a post to Miller’s Instagram account.
“Eight-time Pro Bowl OLB Von Miller is signing with the #Commanders, sources tell The Insiders,” Pelissero wrote on his official X account. “Miller has won Super Bowls with the #Broncos and #Rams. Now he’ll try to earn another ring in Washington.”
Miller followed that up by posting a picture of himself photoshopped into a Commanders uniform — No. 24 — as well as a picture of former Commanders cornerback Champ Bailey in his No.24 Commanders jersey.
“D.C. what’s good?” Miller wrote on Instagram.
Miller was named MVP of Super Bowl 50 for the Denver Broncos in a win over the Charlotte Panthers and won another Super Bowl with the Los Angeles Rams following the 2021 season.
Commanders In Desperate Need of Edge Rusher
The big hole in the Commanders’ offseason has been the lack of adding an edge rusher through free agency or the draft.
Miller was released by the Buffalo Bills on March 9 in a salary cap move that saved them $8.397 million in salary cap space. Miller signed a 6-year, $120 million contract with the Bills in March 2022 which included $51.4 million in guaranteed money.
Miller, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2011 draft by the Broncos, has approximately $191.7 million in career earnings through the end of th 2024 season. Terms of his deal with the Commanders weren’t disclosed yet.
” … Miller could be an asset,” Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox wrote on April 4. “He logged six sacks while playing just 33 percent of the defensive snaps in Buffalo last season.”
Miller’s HOF Career Coming Close To End
Miller, 36 years old, is headed into his 15th NFL season and is already one of the most accomplished defensive players in the history of the game and a lock to be a first ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer.
The No. 2 overall pick by the Denver Broncos in the 2011 NFL draft out of Texas A&M, Miller led the Broncos to a win over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50 and was named Super Bowl MVP. Miller finished that game with 2.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 pass deflection and 6 tackles — widely regarded as one of the greatest individual performances in Super Bowl history.
Miller, who was named to the NFL All-Decade Team for the 2010s, is also a 7-time NFL All-Pro, 8-time Pro Bowler and won another Super Bowl with the Los Angeles Rams following the 2021 season. He’s also one of the highest paid players in NFL history, with approximately $191.7 million in career earnings through the end of the 2024 season.
Over the last 3 seasons, Miller has missed 15 games with the Bills due to injuries.
Not everyone was sold on Miller signing with the Commanders.
“Von Miller is a future Hall of Famer,” NBC 4 Sports reporter JP Finlay wrote on his official X account. “No doubt. But he has just 6 sacks in the last 2 seasons. Few coaches better at taking care of vets than Dan Quinn, and I’m sure there’s a plan to mazimixe his snaps.”
