Former Washington Commanders edge rusher Von Miller is drawing attention from the Green Bay Packers this offseason, with CBS Sports’ Garrett Podell connecting the eight-time Pro Bowler to Green Bay as a fit opposite young pass rusher Lukas Van Ness. Miller, who last suited up for Washington, remains unsigned heading into April 2026 — a notable situation for one of the most decorated edge defenders of his generation.
The Commanders cut ties with Miller after a run that never quite delivered the sack production Washington’s front office brass had hoped for. Now the veteran finds himself in a familiar spot: proving he still belongs on an NFL roster at an advanced age for a pass rusher.
Why the Green Bay Packers Want a Washington Commanders Castoff
Green Bay’s interest in Miller is driven by a specific roster need, not nostalgia. The Packers are without Micah Parsons — who remains sidelined — and need a veteran edge presence to hold down the position until Parsons returns. Podell argues Miller is the right body for that role: experienced enough to contribute immediately, and flexible enough to slide into a situational pass-rush package once the starter is healthy. That’s a smart, low-risk deployment for a team with legitimate postseason ambitions.
Breaking down the advanced metrics, Miller’s value in 2025 was almost entirely tied to his ability to win on early downs with a speed-to-power conversion — something younger rushers like Van Ness are still developing. The numbers suggest a Miller-Van Ness tandem, even for a half-season, could elevate Green Bay’s pressure rate without requiring the Packers to overcommit in the NFL Draft or surrender significant salary cap space. Green Bay’s defensive scheme under coordinator Jeff Hafley runs a base 3-4 front, and Miller has thrived in that alignment throughout his career.
Van Ness, a former first-round pick, has flashed the athleticism Green Bay drafted him for, but he has not yet locked down a consistent snap count as a primary starter. Pairing him with a ten-year veteran who has logged playoff snaps across multiple franchises — Denver, Buffalo, Los Angeles — accelerates that development curve. That kind of mentor-starter dynamic is exactly what contending teams exploit in free agency when they can’t justify a top-dollar deal.
Von Miller’s Career Arc After Washington
Von Miller’s eight Pro Bowl selections span a career that started with the Denver Broncos, where he won Super Bowl 50 MVP honors and established himself as one of the premier pass rushers in NFL history. His path to Washington came after stints with the Los Angeles Rams and Buffalo Bills, and the Commanders represented his latest attempt to extend a career defined by elite burst off the line of scrimmage.
Washington’s decision to move on from Miller reflects the broader challenge of deploying aging edge rushers efficiently. A player who generates pressure at a high rate in his prime can still contribute as a rotational piece — but only if the coaching staff builds the right package around him. The film shows that Miller’s first-step quickness has declined, yet his hand technique and leverage off the snap remain above average for a situational rusher. That’s the version of Miller that Podell envisions in Green Bay: not a 60-snap starter, but a 25-snap weapon in obvious passing situations.
Based on available data, Miller has not yet agreed to terms with any team this offseason. The Packers represent one reported option, though other clubs with edge rusher needs — including teams in the NFC — could enter the picture before any deal is signed.
What Does This Mean for Washington’s Defensive Depth Chart?
Washington Commanders defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. now faces a pass-rush group that must rebuild without Miller’s veteran presence on the edge. The Commanders’ salary cap situation gives the front office flexibility to address the position in the upcoming NFL Draft or through additional free agency moves, though no specific replacement has been announced publicly. Washington’s edge rusher depth chart heading into the 2026 season looks thinner than it did twelve months ago, and the coaching staff will need to identify a starter before training camp opens.
The broader roster strategy for Washington suggests a youth-first rebuild at several positions. General manager Adam Peters has prioritized draft capital and cap flexibility over veteran acquisitions, which explains why Miller was not retained despite his name recognition. Tracking this trend over three seasons, Washington has consistently moved off older, higher-priced defenders in favor of younger, cheaper options — a philosophy that fits a team still building its identity under head coach Dan Quinn.
Key Developments in the Von Miller Free Agency Situation
- CBS Sports’ Garrett Podell specifically named Green Bay as the best fit for Miller, citing the Packers’ edge rusher depth issue following Micah Parsons’ absence.
- DraftKings Sportsbook lists Green Bay at +1500 odds to win the Super Bowl, ranking seventh-best in the NFL — a sign the market views the Packers as a legitimate contender worth investing in.
- Podell recommended Green Bay address the edge rusher position through both a draft pick and a veteran free agent signing, with Miller filling the veteran role.
- Lukas Van Ness, the Packers’ first-round pick tasked with anchoring the edge, would line up opposite Miller in the proposed arrangement rather than being replaced by him.
- Miller’s eight Pro Bowl selections make him one of the most decorated free agents available at any position in the 2026 offseason, regardless of age or recent production.
Where Does the Packers’ Pass Rush Go From Here?
Green Bay’s pass-rush strategy for 2026 hinges on how quickly Parsons returns to full health and how much the front office trusts Van Ness to carry the load in the interim. Adding Miller on a short-term, incentive-laden deal — the kind of structure Peters’ counterpart Brian Gutekunst has used before — keeps the Packers competitive in the NFC without blocking Van Ness’s long-term development. The Packers hold the seventh-best Super Bowl odds in the league at +1500, per DraftKings Sportsbook, which means the front office is operating in win-now mode even while managing a young core.
For the Washington Commanders, the Miller situation serves as a clean break. Washington’s defensive line rebuild under Quinn and Peters will be defined by the 2026 draft class and whatever edge talent the front office can identify in the mid-tier free agent market. The Commanders’ long-term defensive scheme strategy — likely a 4-3 base under Whitt — may not have had room for a pure 3-4 speed rusher like Miller anyway. That’s not a failure; that’s roster construction working as intended.
How many Pro Bowl selections does Von Miller have?
Von Miller has eight career Pro Bowl selections, accumulated across his stints with the Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Rams, Buffalo Bills, and Washington Commanders. His first Pro Bowl came in 2011, and his selections span more than a decade of elite pass-rush production in the AFC and NFC.
What are the Green Bay Packers’ Super Bowl odds for 2026?
DraftKings Sportsbook lists the Green Bay Packers at +1500 to win the Super Bowl, which ranks seventh-best among all 32 NFL franchises heading into the 2026 season. Those odds reflect a team viewed as a legitimate contender but not among the top-tier favorites like the Kansas City Chiefs or Philadelphia Eagles.
Who is Lukas Van Ness and why does he matter to the Packers’ edge rusher plans?
Lukas Van Ness is a Green Bay Packers edge rusher selected in the first round of the NFL Draft. Green Bay envisions Van Ness as a long-term starter off the edge, but his development as a full-time starter is still ongoing. A veteran like Miller would allow Van Ness to grow into the role without being thrown into a 60-snap workload before he is ready.
Why did the Washington Commanders release Von Miller?
Washington moved on from Miller as part of a broader roster philosophy under general manager Adam Peters that favors cap flexibility and younger players over veteran contracts. Miller’s production did not meet the expectations set when he joined the franchise, and retaining him would have consumed salary cap space the Commanders needed for other roster priorities heading into 2026.
What position does Von Miller play and how does he fit the Packers’ defensive scheme?
Von Miller is an edge rusher — sometimes listed as an outside linebacker in 3-4 base defenses — who generates pressure primarily through speed and hand technique off the line. Green Bay’s base 3-4 alignment under coordinator Jeff Hafley suits Miller’s skill set, particularly in a rotational role where he can rush in obvious passing downs rather than playing every snap against the run.
