The Birds are making what they hope ill be a splash move.

On Tuesday afternoon, the team agreed to a deal with veteran edge A.J. Epenesa.

Epenesa was arguably among the top 50 free agents available this cycle, but they land him on what will likely be a non-guarantee kind of deal following his $5 million deal with the Browns falling through three months back following a failed physical.

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

The assumption is he’s healed in the last three months and can now pass a physical, but with teams having filled rosters at their needs for the most part, the Eagles can jump on bringing the productive vet in.

The former second-round pick isn’t likely to start over Nolan Smith or Jonathan Greenard, but he’s been a productive rotational edge for six seasons in Buffalo. In particular, he’s recorded 21.5 sacks and four interceptions along with 107 tackles and 19 defensed passes over the last four seasons.

He averaged over 60% of defensive snaps in the 2024 seasons, but otherwise has hovered in the 40% of defensive snaps range, which should make him a prime candidate for the third or fourth spot in the rotation.

Epenesa would then seem to hop into a competition with Jalyx Hunt, Arnold Ebiketie, and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka for a spot in the rotation and on the roster.

Interestingly, the move comes a week after the team released Brandon Graham in a procedural move for cap purposes. It means those three vets with a history of production join the younger guys and rookies in a much more crowded room that may make it tougher for the team to bring Graham back.

That is, unless the two sides have agreed in principal to a similar deal as last season where they will essentially let Graham rest and stay ready (ideally reserving his prime play for the playoffs and playoff push) while waiting for the first injury on the DL to take place before officially signing him again.