Eagles sign former second-round pick to bolster their pass rush

The Eagles signed defensive end A.J. Epenesa on Wednesday, scooping up a guy who has been sitting on the free agent market since March because the Browns agreed to pay him, looked at his physical, and ran away.

Howie Roseman saw that and said perfect, we’ll take him.

This is the entire Eagles operating model. Wait for another franchise to flinch, then sign the player for nothing. Cleveland had a one-year deal worth up to $5 million on the table back in March. They backed out after the physical. Three months later, Epenesa is in Philadelphia, presumably for less than that, joining a defensive line room that turns reclamation projects into playoff snaps annually.

What the Eagles are getting

Eagles signed former Bills DE A.J. Epenesa.

Epenesa originally was Buffalo’s 2020 second-round pick. He planned to sign with the Browns in March, but didn’t pass his physical. Now he lands in Philadelphia. pic.twitter.com/BRlegoLcID

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 10, 2026

>> Shop Eagles Gear Here

Epenesa is 27, he’s 6-6, 280, and he spent all six of his NFL seasons in Buffalo after the Bills took him in the second round of the 2020 draft. Pick No. 54. One spot after the Eagles took Jalen Hurts.

The career line: 91 games, 19 starts, 24 sacks, 135 tackles, 53 quarterback hits, five forced fumbles, and somehow four interceptions, including a pick-six off Sam Howell in 2023. From 2022 through 2024 he gave Buffalo at least six sacks every single year. Last season the production cratered to 2.5 sacks in 16 games, which is a real number and the reason he was available in June.

But a rotational edge who has cleared six sacks three times in his career, signing in the middle of minicamp, with zero draft capital attached? That’s a fine bet. That’s the kind of bet good front offices make in their sleep.

The Eagles edge room is now a crowd

Epenesa walks into a room with Jonathan Greenard, Nolan Smith, Jalyx Hunt, Arnold Ebiketie, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, Keyshawn James-Newby, Joshua Weru, and Jose Ramirez. He may not survive it. That’s the point. Training camp at the bottom of an Eagles defensive line depth chart is a knife fight, and Howie keeps handing out knives.

The team also signed guard Michael Jordan, yes, really, and waived linebackers Chandler Martin and Isiah King to make the room.

Minicamp wrapped Wednesday, so we won’t see Epenesa in midnight green until training camp in late July. If the physical that spooked Cleveland turns out to be nothing, this is a free veteran pass rusher in June.

If it turns out to be something, it cost the Eagles a roster spot.

I’ve seen Howie lose worse bets.