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Washington Commanders edge rusher Von Miller.
The Washington Commanders got a pretty good deal on future Pro Football Hall of Famer Von Miller in 2025, even if the season didn’t play out the way anyone wanted.
Miller signed a 1-year, $6 million free agent contract with the Commanders at the start of training camp in July and delivered a team-high 9.0 sacks. He also played in all 17 regular-season games —with just 3 starts — and was only on the field for 37 percent of Washington’s defensive snaps.
It was the 1st time Miller played in every regular-season game since 2018, with the Denver Broncos, and his most sacks since 2021, when he played for the Broncos and the Los Angeles Rams.
That’s an incredible return on investment, and shows the 36-year-old Miller, a 2-time Super Bowl champion, is far from cooked and can continue his career on if he’s so inclined.
Fox Sports NFL reporter Greg Auman predicts Miller could be headed for a reunion of sorts in the AFC West with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2026.
“Miller, 36, managed to lead Washington with nine sacks in 2025 while playing rotational snaps on an affordable $6 million deal,” Auman wrote. “Can he do it again for Year 16? Of course, he can. He’s the NFL’s active career sack leader with 138.5, a lock for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and he’s playing for a fraction of what he cost a few years ago. He played in his heyday for Gary Kubiak in Denver, so could he finish his career with Klint in Las Vegas?”
Through 15 NFL seasons Miller, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft, has approximately $199.5 million in career earnings.
Smart Move for Commanders: Bring Miller Back
If the Commanders can get Miller on a deal similar to the one he signed before the 2025 season, they should leap at the opportunity to bring him back if he’s willing.
The Commanders don’t have much back in terms of a pass rush, even if everyone else decides to return in 2026 as well. Miller far outpaced teammates Jacob Martin (5.5 sacks), Dorance Armstrong (5.5 sacks) and Jer’Zhan Newton (5.0 sacks).
The more likely scenario is the Commanders use the No. 7 overall pick on an edge rusher or defensive lineman — if Texas Tech’s David Bailey or Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr. are available at that spot they would seem like no brainers for Washington.
Possible Reunion for Miller With Broncos
One Made-For-TV scenario for Miller in 2026 would be a reunion with the Broncos, Miller’s 1st team and one who should be among the Super Bowl favorites in 2026.
How fitting would it be if Miller, the Super Bowl 50 MVP for the Broncos following the 2015 season, ended his year with another Super Bowl win for the franchise?
“He was always a guy I watched and kinda wanted to model my game after,” All-Pro Broncos edge rusher Nik Bonitto said on the “Closed on Sundays” podcast with Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II. “I’d love to have him come back and retire a Bronco; just play with him, to learn from him. He’s one of the greatest of all-time, so any way that he can help me out… that’ll be probably a great thing for me.”
Tony Adame covers the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Commanders, Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos. A veteran sports writer and editor since 2004, his work has been featured at Stadium Talk, Yardbarker, NW Florida Daily News and Pensacola News Journal. More about Tony Adame
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