The former second-round pick is the latest member of the Buffalo Bills defense to find a new home in free agency.
Defensive end AJ Epenesa will sign a one-year contract worth up to $5 million with the Cleveland Browns, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
advertise
Epenesa, 27, spent six NFL seasons in Buffalo after being drafted by the Bills with the 54th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft out of Iowa.
He never developed into a full-time starter but played a steady role in the Bills’ defensive line rotation. Epenesa appeared in 91 regular season games, including 19 starts, and finished his tenure with 135 tackles, 24 sacks and 29 tackles for loss.
His most productive period was from 2022 to 2024, with a total of 19 sacks in three seasons, including consecutive 6.5 sacks in 2022 and 2023.
Epenesa’s sack numbers dropped in 2025, when he recorded 2.5 sacks in 16 games.
advertise
Epenesa has shown off his skills in passing routes with 17 career pass deflections and four interceptions, including two interceptions last season.
This is Epenesa’s second unrestricted free agent. The Bills re-signed him to a two-year, $12 million contract in 2024 after his rookie contract expired.
Buffalo signed edge rusher Bradley Chubb to a three-year, $43.5 million contract last week.
This article originally appeared in the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Former Bills DE AJ Epenesa signs one-year contract with Browns
