The New York Giants’ Week 1 matchup — and the NFC East division as a whole — just got a little bit more difficult on July 16 as the Washington Commanders signed superstar pass rusher Von Miller.
NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero was among those reporting the news on Wednesday evening.
“Eight-time Pro Bowl OLB Von Miller is signing with the Commanders, sources tell The Insiders,” Pelissero relayed on X. Adding: “Miller has won Super Bowls with the [Denver] Broncos and [Los Angeles] Rams. Now he’ll try to earn another ring in Washington.”
What Type of Impact Should We Expect From Von Miller With the Commanders?
It should be noted that Miller is getting up there in age, having just turned 36 years old in March. But that doesn’t mean he should be taken lightly.
To go along with his eight Pro Bowls and his Super Bowl impact, Miller is a seven-time All-Pro (three first-team AP honors, four second-team) and one of the top sack specialists of all time.
Miller has already racked up 129.5 career regular season sacks, plus 10.5 postseason sacks and 183 total tackles for a loss. He’s also been known to strip quarterbacks and force turnovers quite often throughout his career, with 30 total forced fumbles (including playoffs).
So, with all that in mind, what should the Giants expect from Miller in Week 1?
Above all else, Miller is a tactician who has mastered his craft as a pass rusher. His snap percentage on defense dropped to a little over 30% in his two most recent seasons with the Buffalo Bills, so he’s not going to be on the field all game long, but when he does come in, he’ll be going after the quarterback nine times out of 10.
In that reduced role, Miller accumulated 6.0 sacks and 7 tackles for a loss in 2024, which is certainly nothing to scoff at. Sure, he’s no longer the steady All-Pro he once was, but his presence on the Commanders should nonetheless raise some concerns, considering the Giants’ offensive line has not been their strong suit in recent years.
Giants Will Likely Have Their Work Cut Out For Them Inside the Division as NFC East Rivals Continue Arms Race
The Commanders were a surprise NFC championship runner-up last winter, but their front office has done its due diligence to turn winning into commonplace in 2025.
After all, Offensive Rookie of the Year quarterback Jayden Daniels will only be affordable for so long, and Washington looks like they are attempting to maximize his rookie contract.
The Giants must also contend with a healthy Dallas Cowboys team, which had been a steady playoff contender before a rash of injuries devastated their 2024 campaign.
Matching the Commanders in the NFC East arms race, the Cowboys traded for star wide receiver George Pickens, pairing him with CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott.
And if the Giants manage to find a way past those two, their reward is the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, whose roster is stacked from top to bottom.
It’s no secret that the NYG schedule should be challenging this year, and the division is a large part of that.
Unfortunately, the more one NFC East franchise buys, the more the others will follow suit. And the Giants are in no place to get involved in an arms race.
That makes Washington’s recent spending spree a concerning trend to keep an eye on.
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