Von Miller contract details: Bills make former Broncos, Rams star one of NFL’s highest-paid defenders


Von Miller contract details: Bills make former Broncos, Rams star one of NFL's highest-paid defenders


Von Miller is heading back to the AFC, but he won’t be rejoining the Broncos. Instead, he will be heading to the Bills.

Buffalo will be Miller’s third different team since the start of the 2021 NFL season. He spent the first 9 1/2 seasons of his career with Denver before being traded to the Rams ahead of the 2021 NFL trade deadline.

Miller helped Los Angeles win the franchise’s first Super Bowl title since 2000. Now, he is hoping to help lead Buffalo to its first Super Bowl win. And he will be paid handsomely to do it.

The Bills are set to make Miller one of the highest-paid defenders in the NFL with his new deal. Here’s a breakdown of how much the 33-year-old pass-rusher will make.

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Von Miller contract details

The Bills signed Von Miller to a six-year contract worth $120 million. The terms of the contract were first reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Miller’s $20 million average annual value will make him one of the highest-paid defenders in the NFL. Only 10 were making $20 million or more per year before Miller agreed to his deal. The average annual value ranks seventh overall among edge rushers.

The full list of NFL defenders making $20 million or more per year, according to OverTheCap.com:

Rank Player Team AAV
1 T.J. Watt Steelers $28 million
2 Joey Bosa Chargers $27 million
3 Myles Garrett Browns $25 million
4 Khalil Mack Chargers $23.5 million
5 Aaron Donald Rams $22.5 million
T-6 DeForest Buckner Colts $21 million
T-6 Leonard Williams Giants $21 million
8 Frank Clark Chiefs $20.8 million
T-9 Chris Jones Chiefs $20 million
T-9 Jalen Ramsey Rams $20 million
T-9 Von Miller Bills $20 million

MORE: Ranking the NFL’s top 50 free agents in 2022

While the AAV of Miller’s deal is reportedly $20 million, Rapoport also reported that the first four years of the deal are worth about $17.5 million on average.

What does this mean? Miller’s deal may be backloaded. That could work to the Bills’ benefit depending on the structure of the contract.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that just $51.5 million of Miller’s deal is guaranteed and $45 million is fully guaranteed at signing. If those guarantees come at the beginning of the deal, the Bills should have an easy way to get out of the contract in its later years if Miller’s play tails off.

So while this looks like a major commitment for a 33-year-old pass-rusher, it may not be as long-term as it appears. The Bills can reap the benefits of having Miller while he is still playing well.

Miller logged 9.5 sacks over 15 games with the Broncos and Rams in 2021. He has 115.5 total sacks during his career and has been an Associated Press All-Pro first-teamer three times.




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