Browns Sign A.J. Epenesa, Strengthen Defense

0:00On March 19, Cleveland Brown's general manager, Andrew Berry, is making moves in the second wave of 2026 free agency. The team signed defensive in A.J. Epinisa to a one-year deal worth up to $5 million. He'll compete for playing time behind starters, Miles Garrett, and Alex Wright, alongside Isaiah McGuire. This addresses a needed ed rusher after Cameron Thomas left for the Atlanta Falcons early in free agency. Epinisa joins from the Buffalo Bills where he developed as a former second-round draft pick with solid pass rush skills. Analysts call it a smart-value pickup, given his track record of six and a half sacks in back-to-back seasons. He signed an extension there before shifting to a rotational role amid some performance dips last year. The Browns also added live-backer Quincy Williams and special teams players recently strengthening the defense on short-term, affordable contracts. These steps provide depth without straining the salary cap. Moving into draft month, Cleveland gains flexibility to target more pass rush help while

1:00building around their core stars.