Jason Sponseller / Shutterstock.com
AJ Epenesa is heading to Cleveland on a one-year contract worth up to $5 million, according to a source who spoke with ESPN‘s Adam Schefter on Wednesday.
The 27-year-old defensive end spent his entire six-year career with the Bills after Buffalo selected him in the second round of the 2020 NFL draft. He’s been a solid rotational piece along the defensive line – appearing in 91 games with 19 starts over those years.
Epenesa racked up 24 career sacks, though his production dipped last season. He managed just 2.5 sacks across 16 games in 2025, a significant drop-off considering he’d notched 19 sacks during the previous three seasons combined.
His impact goes beyond just getting to the quarterback.
Epenesa’s made a habit of disrupting passing lanes with his length – he’s batted down 14 passes during his career and picked off four (two of those interceptions came last season). Those are the kind of plays that don’t always show up in the stat sheet but can change a game.
Despite appearing in 14 postseason games throughout his career with Buffalo, Epenesa never recorded a playoff sack. He’s tallied three quarterback hits and three batted passes in those playoff appearances.
The Browns are getting a proven depth piece who knows his role. While Epenesa never quite developed into the pass-rushing force Buffalo hoped for when they drafted him, he’s been dependable – and there’s value in that, especially on a one-year prove-it deal.
