Von Miller agreed to terms on a one-year contract with the Washington Commanders earlier this week. Terms of the deal are not yet known, which is probably a sign that it’s a team-friendly deal (agents are often quick to publicize the details of player-friendly contracts).

If the assumption that Miller did not receive a massive salary is accurate, the Denver Broncos probably could have afforded to sign him (OverTheCap.com estimates Denver has more than $12.6 million in salary cap space). So, why didn’t the Broncos sign Miller for the 2025 season?

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Miller has made it clear that he loves the team and wants to retire as a Bronco, so it’s clearly not a matter of the player not being interested in a reunion. Instead, it seems to be a matter of numbers.

Denver already has Nik Bonitto (a second-team All-Pro last year) and Jonathon Cooper (who totaled 10.5 sacks last year, more than Miller has recorded in any year since 2018). The Broncos also used a third-round pick to select Jonah Ellis last year, and he was productive as a rotational rookie with five sacks. Denver also found a UFL gem in Dondrea Tillman last spring, and he also recorded five sacks last fall.

So the top four pass rusher spots are set, and the Broncos used a fourth-round draft pick to select Que Robinson in April. Denver also signed high-profile undrafted free agent pass rusher Johnny Walker. That’s at least five and possibly six outside linebackers who could end up on the 53-man roster.

The Broncos’ rotational pass rushers also play on special teams, and Miller has acknowledged that’s not something he’s looking to do at 36 years old (and it wouldn’t make sense to ask him to). At this point in his career, Miller is a luxury piece — a situation pass rusher who makes sense for a contender that doesn’t have a packed depth chart at his position.

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Denver’s OLB room is packed, and the team wants to continue developing its young pass rushers. So while Miller will undoubtedly return to retire as a Bronco one day, there just wasn’t room for him on the squad in 2025.

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This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: NFL: Why didn’t the Broncos sign Von Miller?