Following the Buffalo Bills’ 2020 AFC championship loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, the coaching staff sought to add a pass rush, which they lacked against Patrick Mahomes in that game. In the 2021 NFL draft, the Bills selected University of Miami defensive end Greg Rousseau as a potential future pass rusher. Rousseau had a lot of potential and had a standout season in college (15.5 sacks, trailing only Chase Young), before missing the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rousseau is coming off a 5-sack season, but he was quiet in the second half of the season and was outperformed by teammate A.J. Epenesa, who was drafted the year before him. In three seasons with Buffalo, Rousseau has 17 sacks and 129 combined tackles. While he has not produced all-star numbers, he has been consistent for the Bills over the last three seasons. Rousseau’s game could improve with veteran teammates like Von Miller and Leonard Floyd, but he has yet to reach his full potential.
His best game of the season came in Week 4 against the Miami Dolphins, when he sacked Tua Tagovailoa twice and blocked a pass at the line of scrimmage. He also recorded three total tackles on his stat sheet. Rousseau’s stock has declined since that week due to a lack of production. Even his ability to create pressure decreased week after week as the season progressed.
Will the Bills exercise Rousseau’s fifth-year option?
With three seasons under his belt after being selected in the first round three years ago, Brandon Beane must decide whether Rousseau will be a part of the Bills’ long-term plans. While Rousseau has shown flashes of greatness, he has not been the wrecking ball that the Bills have been hoping for. He has not disappointed anyone, but he has also not consistently met expectations.
Going into the offseason, it will be critical to evaluate defensive ends on the market now or next year to see if they are better than Rousseau. Rousseau has yet to earn a big contract extension with the Bills. Buffalo may want to consider declining Rousseau’s fifth-year option, putting him on a true contract year in 2024. Players who play for a paycheck typically have career years, which is what Rousseau may need to earn a second contract in Buffalo.
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