Grading the signing: Cleveland Browns find great value in the second week of free agency to make their defense even more dangerous
The Browns are on the board with a free agency signing and it’s a decently significant addition for the defense.
The Cleveland Browns made several free agent signings last week mostly on the offensive side of the football. Cleveland went in with a clear plan to overhaul its offensive line to the best of their ability during free agency and accomplished that.
Cleveland is now on the board with another free agent addition on Wednesday and this time they’re improving in the defensive trenches.
Grading the Browns’ defensive addition of former Bills EDGE A.J. Epenesa
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Browns have reached an agreement on a one-year deal with former Buffalo Bills DE A.J. Epenesa for up to $5 million. Epenesa spent his first six seasons with the Bills after being a second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Epenesa has never been able to become the complete pass rusher the Bills had hoped they would get with a top-60 pick in 2022. Still, Epenesa has been a good secondary rusher, and he’s a good fit for what he’ll be asked to do with the Browns.
Cleveland lost their No. 4 pass rusher Cameron Thomas to the Atlanta Falcons after free agency began last week. Epenesa raises the floor of the defensive end room as a more proven and productive pass rusher than Thomas was. After Myles Garrett, it’s Alex Wright and Isaiah McGuire as the next two pass rushers. Epenesa has 24 sacks over six seasons, but showed consistency from 2022 through 2024 with at least six sacks each year.
To learn more about Epenesa, I turned to A to Z Sports’ Adam Zientek, who has covered the former Bills player during his time in Buffalo.
“Epenesa is one of those fringe guys who can really make an impact on the defense. He’s shown flashes during his time in Buffalo, even getting a few interceptions to his name during his time. However, he just didn’t pan out to be the player the Bills thought he would be when he was drafted in the second-round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
The 6-foot-6, 260-pound defensive lineman played in 16 games for the Bills in 2025 and all 17 games in 2024. In his 2025 season, he had two interceptions, one fumble recovery, two and a half sacks, and 32 combined tackles.
In his six seasons with the Bills, his sack career high was six and a half, showing that he still has plenty to offer as a pass rusher. In 488 total snaps, he earned a 74 grade according to Pro Football Focus for his coverage grade and a 63.4 for his pass-rushing abilities. He had 28 total pressures with a 12.1% missed tackle percentage. He’s not a true dominant number one guy, but paired in the right system, he can make a big difference on the defensive side of the football.” — Adam Zientek, A to Z Sports Buffalo
For Cleveland, it’s a great value after the majority of the free agents are already gone at this point. Epenesa is strong depth, and gives you a starter in a pinch if needed.
Final grade: A-