The Cleveland Browns will not sign veteran defensive end AJ Epenesa after his physical, a source told ESPN. The team had agreed to a one‑year contract worth up to $5 million on March 18, but the deal fell through when Epenesa visited the Browns’ facility last Monday.

Epenesa, 27, spent six seasons with the Buffalo Bills, a second‑round pick in 2020, and logged 91 games with 19 starts. He was expected to add depth to the Browns’ defensive line after Cameron Thomas signed with the Atlanta Falcons earlier this offseason in 2026.

With Thomas gone, the Browns face a thinner front‑line rotation. Epenesa’s experience on the edge could have steadied the unit, but the missed signing leaves the team scrambling for a veteran presence to anchor the pass rush in the upcoming season to maintain competitive edge.

The Browns will need to find another veteran to fill the gap left by Thomas and Epenesa, as the team looks to keep its defensive line competitive without the expected depth boost in the next training camp and preseason games to assess potential replacements for.