NFL
By Rick O’Donnell
When you have an opportunity to sign a premier player such as Von Miller, you take it. His ability to rush a quarterback has always been elite, and now that he’s in the back part of his career, you don’t have to break the bank to get him. At 36 years old, Miller received a 1-year deal with the Washington Commanders, but will it be enough to compete for the division?
Right now, it’s a very low risk for Washington. Yes, he’s 36 and hasn’t played a full season since 2018, but they don’t need him to. Washington brings one of the top passing defenses into 2025, coming in 4th in total passing yards allowed from 2024, but the pass rush wasn’t there at times. With that being said, the Commanders did lose contributors on defense this offseason, including Pro Bowl DT Jonathan Allen, who was out nine games last season. Clearly, they had holes they needed filled, and having an extra veteran pass rusher never hurts.
But Miller’s contribution to the passing game isn’t the concern here. He’s always been able to get after QBs unless injuries hurt his production. Will he be a bigger factor in the run game, something Washington wasn’t stellar at last year? They’ve added guys up front, such as Javon Kinlaw and Eddie Goldman, but will it be enough? This late in the offseason is too questionable to move big names, but consistency should be the prime focus.
So, when it comes to Von Miller, I get the signing, but is it the right move? At his age, will he still be able to keep up with the Jalen Hurts or Dak Prescott-type QBs? He’s no longer chasing down the Aaron Rodgers or Zach Wilsons. He joined a division of mobile QBs with speedy WRs. He will definitely contribute to the defense, but will he be the impact player they need him to be?
Now, when it comes to the run game, the question of contribution stands out twice as much. Just as the NFC East has mobile QBs that can beat you with their legs, he’s also going to be expected to chase down the Saquon Barkleys, Tyrone Tracys, and Devin Singletarys, and that’s just in his division. He’s still got the explosiveness about him that will show up on game day. It’s just a matter of how much he has left in the tank.
This isn’t a knock on Von Miller. Commanders fans should be excited to add a high-profile defender to the team. However, does it address their biggest need in the middle of their defense? Will he be able to keep up with the younger players in the division? Can he stay healthy for all 16 games? Chances are, yes, he’ll be able to improve the Washington Commanders’ defense. He can contribute, but the biggest question on defense is, who is going to step up and be the game changer that teams have to focus on for players like Von Miller to do what he does best?
