With the 30th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills drafted Gregory Rousseau, edge rusher out of Miami. With the Bills not having many glaring weaknesses on their roster, addressing the defensive line in the first round makes a lot of sense. Rousseau is a player who was at one point projected to go much higher before he opted out of the 2020 season and had a very lackluster pro day. Buffalo might have found tremendous value late in Round 1.
Gregory Rousseau Highlights
Gregory Rousseau NFL Draft Profile and Stats
Gregory Rousseau
Position: Edge Rusher
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 265 lbs
Age: 21
College: Miami Hurricanes
Gregory Rousseau 2019 Stats
Tackles: 54
TFLs: 19.5
Sacks: 15.5
QB Hits: 6
FFs: 2
Gregory Rousseau Draft Profile
Strengths
Physically, Gregory Rousseau has the perfect build for an NFL edge rusher. Despite standing 6-6, Rousseau has a special ability to bend and get under matchups. He is an all-around athlete, proved by the fact that he is a former wide receiver. Rousseau also possesses the physical ability to play and thrive on the interior, with length and speed that will make him a matchup nightmare wherever he lines up.
Weaknesses
Rousseau is still filling out his frame as an edge rusher, so his overall power needs work. The Miami rusher is still raw, working on his overall set of moves as an edge. He has struggled more against offensive tackles, which could very obviously be a red flag for the NFL. Rousseau also has an injury history, after an ankle injury his freshman year limited him to 17 snaps.
RELATED | Full Gregory Rousseau NFL Draft Profile, Highlights and Stats
What to Expect From Gregory Rousseau in 2021
Although Gregory Rousseau likely won’t be a starter right away, he certainly will have a profound role in this Bills defense. Buffalo struggled mightily at stopping the run last season. They were gashed on numerous occasions, including by teams who struggled to run the ball all season. The athletic and large Rousseau should be able to help change that. He will likely slot in behind Jerry Hughes on the depth chart at left defensive end.
With 2020 draftee A.J. Epenesa also considered to be on the second unit of the team’s depth chart, the Bills have two highly-regarded young players capable of giving the starters a blow. Epenesa was a factor on a number of occasions as a rookie. Look for Rousseau to have a similar workload in his maiden NFL season.
