NFL free agency: Predicting where top 25 projected players land in 2022
By Peter Panacy
player. 53. . EDGE. Cleveland Browns. Von Miller. 6
2022 NFL free agency: Von Miller to Cleveland Browns
The Denver Broncos are going to shift their pass-rushing attention from perennial Pro Bowl EDGE Von Miller to the younger, cheaper Bradley Chubb, and one could make the argument Miller could be a cap casualty or trade commodity between now and when he hits free agency in 2022.
Miller will turn 33-years-old before the 2022 season starts and he also needs to bounce back from a season-ending ankle injury before his 2020 campaign even began, so he might not be able to command the lucratively high free-agent deal on the open market. At this point in his career, going to a contender might be more important than trying to maximize his value.
Especially if we’re beginning to see the inevitable decline in Miller’s production level, perhaps evidenced by the small drop in sacks last year compared to previous campaigns:
- 2015: 11 sacks
- 2016: 13.5 sacks
- 2017: 10 sacks
- 2018: 14.5 sacks
- 2019: 8 sacks
One of the best possible scenarios for Miller would be to head over to the Browns where he can pair up with another prolific pass-rusher, Myles Garrett, on a Cleveland squad that finally broke its playoff drought last season.
On top of that pass-rushing duo, Miller could reunite with defensive coordinator Joe Woods, who held the same role in Denver in 2017 and 2018 when Miller had a combined 24.5 sacks.