Green Bay Packers Rumors: Interest in Free Agent Von Miller
By Paul Bretl
The Green Bay Packers are one of a few teams that have reported interest in free agent edge rusher Von Miller, according to Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network.
While the makeup of the Green Bay Packers edge room looks fine at the moment, a big change could be on the way.
All signs point to Za’Darius Smith being a salary cap casualty, which will provide the Packers with $15.2 million in needed cap space this offseason. Meanwhile, Preston Smith and Green Bay are reportedly in talks of an extension, and of course, the ascending Rashan Gary will still be around as well.
However, even with Smith and Gary being two of the more productive edge rushers in football last season with both players finishing in the top-10 in pressures generated, according to PFF ($$), the depth of the unit and the lack of impact plays when those two weren’t on the field was noticeable.
Edge rusher is a heavily rotated position, both Smith and Gary played around 68% of the defensive snaps in 2021 when they were on the field, and it’s also one of the most important positions in football, meaning there is no such thing as too much depth.
So I’ve said all of that to say this, don’t be surprised to see Green Bay address the edge rusher position this offseason—whether that be through free agency or, more likely, the draft.
Green Bay Packers show reported interest in Von Miller
Up until being traded to the Los Angeles Rams prior to last year’s trade deadline, Miller had spent his entire career in Denver, where for many years, he was one of the game’s top edge rushers. Miller is an eight-time Pro Bowler, three-time All-Pro, the 2011 Defensive Rookie of the Year, and he was named to the 2010 All-Decade Team.
Miller’s most productive season came in 2015 when he recorded 105 pressures and 17 sacks, per PFF. Since then, from 2016 to 2019, Miller averaged almost 76 pressures per season along with 12 sacks. For context, this past season, Gary recorded 83 pressures and nine sacks.
Miller would miss all of the 2020 season after undergoing ankle surgery, but he bounced back this past year with 82 pressures and 13 sacks as he won the second Super Bowl of his career, this time with the Rams.
Miller paired with Gary, and P. Smith would form what would likely end up being the best edge-rushing trio in football. While I don’t doubt that the Green Bay Packers checked in on Miller, as Brian Gutekunst says, he does want to be in on every conversation; I have my doubts that Miller will make his way to Green Bay.
The biggest reason is the salary cap. We do not know what kind of spending power the Packers will have in free agency, but odds are it will be limited. In Wilson’s report, he suggests that Miller’s next deal will earn him $20 million per year on the high-end and $16-$18 million on the low-end. If Miller’s next contract falls anywhere near that range, he will be well outside of the Packers’ price range.
It’s also important to note that this is a very deep edge rusher draft class, and Green Bay could look to take a similar route as they did with Gary, bringing a rookie along slowly and relying more so on the veterans already on the roster in 2022. This approach will also be more cost-effective as well.
So clearly, I don’t see this signing happening, but I will add that I do like the idea of Green Bay adding a veteran presence at the position—especially if they are going to try to run things back once again. Whitney Mercilus, who the Packers signed early on last season, could fill a rotational role and would come at a much more affordable price.