Linebacker Von Miller has signed… wait for it… a one-year deal with the Washington Commanders, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. This decision represents the biggest shift in Miller’s short career so far. He’s headed to a different squad after producing three of the most productive years ever from a tight end with the Buffalo Bills.
The agreement includes a $1.5 million signing bonus. Miller is on the hook to earn it himself if he can cut into that contract incentive by sacking rookie quarterback Drake Maye. This might give Miller extra incentive, too, as he attempts to rebound from a rough 2022 campaign.
While with the Buffalo Bills, Miller garnered a staggering 14 sacks. He finished with eight sacks in his rookie year and then six the subsequent season. His first season was cut short by a catastrophic right ACL tear on November 24, 2022. Miller said during 2024 training camp that he “definitely shouldn’t have played” the season after it happened. At that time, he was still recovering from lingering effects of his injury.
Even given these obstacles and only considering the career he’s had so far, Miller’s statistical production is staggering. He has recorded 129.5 career sacks, good for 16th on the NFL’s all-time list. During his time with the Denver Broncos — the franchise that selected him second overall in 2011 — Miller racked up 110.5 sacks over his first decade in the league. He won MVP of Super Bowl 50 and went to seven All-Pro teams, three of which were first-team nods. Further, he was selected to eight different Pro Bowls over his career.
That hasn’t been without controversy in Miller’s recent history. He will miss the first four games of the 2024 season due to suspension. That penalty came as punishment for the violation of the NFL’s personal conduct policy. The suspension added layers to the difficulty of his performance. He finished the 2023 campaign having appeared in 12 contests with no sacks and just three tackles to his name.
Miller’s contract with the Commanders comes at a time when he was set to account for the second-highest cap space at $23.9 million on the Bills’ roster. This financial relief can help Miller and the Commanders jointly as he tries to get the Commanders defense back into Super Bowl form.
Miller’s gotten on board with Washington. This decision brings him back together with Adam Peters, the former Broncos assistant GM who now resides with the Commanders. This connection may foster a supportive environment for Miller as he transitions into this new chapter of his career.
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