Almost immediately following the 2026 NFL draft, the Green Bay Packers signed veteran quarterback Tyrod Taylor, solving a roster issue at backup quarterback. But is Brian Gutekunst done shopping on the veteran free agent market?
If he’s not, ESPN’s Matt Bowen has an idea: Signing former Buffalo Bills edge rusher AJ Epenesa, who remains unsigned after failing to finalize a deal with the Cleveland Browns in March. In Epenesa, Bowen sees a scheme fit and a player who could help the depth at a premium position where the Packers lost veterans this offseason.
Epenesa to the Packers was one of Bowen’s favorite fits among the top unsigned free agents available.
From Bowen: “The Packers lost rotational edge rusher Kingsley Enagbare to the Jets in free agency, so the team could add his replacement in Epenesa. He’s a long, powerful mover who can set the edge with his 6-foot-6, 260-pound frame. He can also create disruptive plays under new coordinator Jonathan Gannon, as he recorded 24.5 sacks and four interceptions in six seasons with the Bills.”
Epenesa was a second-round pick of the Bills in the 2020 draft. He’s played in 91 games over his six NFL seasons, tallying 24.0 sacks, 53 quarterback hits, 29 tackles for loss, four interceptions and five forced fumbles.
Epenesa was a preferred starter for the Bills just once in six seasons, and he’s coming off back-to-back middling seasons by PFF’s grades. His career high in pressures for a season is just 33, and he produced only 2.5 sacks in 2025 after three straight seasons with at least 6.0.
The big question mark: the Browns opted not to sign Epenesa in March after putting him through a physical, suggesting there is a medical issue in play. Also, the Miami Dolphins had Epenesa in for a visit in April before the draft but chose not to sign him.
In terms of pros of a potential signing for the Packers, Epenesa would give Green Bay an attractive combination of size and experience at edge rusher, and an insurance policy should injuries hit Lukas Van Ness, or if Barryn Sorrell or Collin Oliver fail to take a step forward in Year 2. Epenesa (who has special teams experience) falls squarely along the lines of a useful but hardly extraordinary backup edge rusher, much like Kingsley Enagbare. And the Packers could probably use some experience at edge rusher while Micah Parsons works his way back early in the 2026 season.
But Epenesa would also block snaps for Sorrell, Oliver and rookie Dani Dennis-Sutton, a fourth-round pick. It’s certainly possible the Packers like the young depth they’ve built behind Parsons and Van Ness and are ready to move forward with the current group. Also, the medical issue for Epenesa is likely the leading factor for why he’s still available.
Cost would be another determining factor. If the Packers are comfortable with his medicals and could get him on a cheap, one-year deal, Epenesa could be a valuable late-offseason addition. But no team wants to guarantee real money to a player coming off a down season and now dealing with a medical issue.
While adding a veteran edge rusher is a possibility for the Packers ahead of the 2026 season, Epenesa is an unlikely candidate given the medical question mark.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Could Packers provide landing spot for FA edge rusher AJ Epenesa?
Reporting by Zach Kruse, Packers Wire / Packers Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
