Browns add former second round pick to round out defensive end room
The Browns now have a core four in their defensive end room after adding former second round pick A.J. Epenesa in NFL free agency
In a room headlined by the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Myles Garrett, the Cleveland Browns have added a rotational player to give defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg a firm rotation to work with in NFL free agency . Cleveland has inked a one-year deal worth up to $5 million with 2020 NFL Draft second round pick and long-time Buffalo Bills pass rusher A. J.
Epenesa. Adding the 27-year-old pass rusher now gives the Browns a firm four defensive ends to rotate through on game days. The room now consists of Garrett, Alex Wright (fresh off a contract extension in-season), Isaiah McGuire, and now Epenesa.
Drafted 54th overall by the Bills six years ago, Epenesa has racked up 24 career sacks and 29 tackles for loss. He went through three years from 2022 to 2024, where he had six sacks in each of those seasons . The Browns will take that kind of production from Epenesa as their third or fourth man in the rotation.
Former Bills DE A. J. Epenesa is signing a one-year deal worth up to $5 million with the Cleveland Browns, per source.