{"id":842149,"date":"2026-03-30T02:28:18","date_gmt":"2026-03-30T02:28:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/842149\/"},"modified":"2026-03-30T02:28:18","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T02:28:18","slug":"bears-could-land-aj-epenesa-after-browns-deal-falls-through","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/842149\/","title":{"rendered":"Bears Could Land AJ Epenesa After Browns Deal Falls Through"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\"A.J.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGetty\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Defensive end A.J. Epenesa #57 of the Buffalo Bills.<\/p>\n

The Chicago Bears<\/a> need pass-rush help and a value option has just reemerged on the market.<\/p>\n

Former Buffalo Bills<\/a> edge defender AJ Epenesa<\/a> inked a one-year deal with the Cleveland Browns<\/a> in free agency earlier this month, but the Browns backed out of that agreement on Sunday, March 29.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Browns won\u2019t be signing DE AJ Epenesa as was initially reported, per source. Team wasn\u2019t comfortable finalizing the deal after his physical,\u201d ESPN\u2019s Daniel Oyefusi reported<\/a>. \u201cEpenesa visited the team\u2019s facility last Monday, per the NFL\u2019s transaction wire. The anticipation was that Epenesa would provide depth at DE and replace Cameron Thomas<\/a>, who signed with the Falcons<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

AJ Epenesa Can Offer Bears Upside on Team-Friendly Contract if Healthy\"Bills'<\/p>\n

GettyFormer Buffalo Bills pass-rusher AJ Epenesa.<\/p>\n

Oyefusi did not report<\/a> the precise health issue that Epenesa displayed that caused Cleveland to make its decision to revoke the contract offer.<\/p>\n

Epenesa has played in at least 14 games in every one of his six NFL<\/a> seasons, including 16 of 17 contests last season. He suffered injuries in 2025, including a concussion and a foot issue late in the campaign. Reports of a neck injury also emerged ahead of Buffalo\u2019s Divisional Round playoff game against the Denver Broncos<\/a> in January, though Epenesa ended up playing in that contest.<\/p>\n

Across 91 games played (19 starts) in his career, Epenesa has produced 53 QB hits, 29 tackles for loss, 24 sacks<\/a>, 21 pass breakups, five forced fumbles, four interceptions and one defensive touchdown.<\/p>\n

The defensive end has earned more than $20.6 million<\/a> during his professional tenure, with Spotrac projecting his market value at nearly $13 million total<\/a> over a new two-year contract.<\/p>\n

Bears Have Handful of Veteran Options to Improve Pass Rush Next Season\"Cameron<\/p>\n

GettyDefensive end Cameron Jordan of the New Orleans Saints<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Chicago needs a pass-rusher to help bolster a defense that produced just 35 sacks as a unit in 2025. The team was near last place in the league in quick pressures and pass rush win rate last season.<\/p>\n

Now back on the market, Epenesa is one of the younger potential options available to the Bears at just 27 years old. Other names Chicago could consider include Cameron Jordan<\/a>, Jadeveon Clowney<\/a> and Kyle Van Noy<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Aaron Leming of Windy City Gridiron<\/a> last week authored a quick look at all three of them as candidates to join the Bears defense.<\/p>\n

Jordan, who is soon to be 37, has plenty of ties to [Bears] defensive coordinator Dennis Allen<\/a>. Last year\u2019s 10.5-sack performance was the first time he had reached the double-digit sack plateau since his 12.5-sack season in 2021.<\/p>\n

Clowney is another interesting name, even if he\u2019s become a year-to-year journeyman since his days in Cleveland. The 33-year-old is a former No. 1 overall pick who has never experienced a 10-sack season, yet has continued to produce at a starting level.<\/p>\n

Van Noy is yet another ageless wonder who experienced a down season in 2025, but has consistently been a pass-rushing force over the last handful of years.<\/p>\n

Former Bears first-round pick Leonard Floyd<\/a> (2016) is also a free agent and could be a fit for a reunion in Chicago.<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMax Dible<\/a> covers the NFL, NBA and MLB for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears and Cleveland Browns. He covered local and statewide news as a reporter for West Hawaii Today and served as news director for BigIslandNow.com and Pacific Media Group’s family of Big Island radio stations before joining Heavy. More about Max Dible<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMore Heavy on Bears\n\t\t<\/p>\n

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