The Buffalo Bills drafted Miami Hurricanes edge rusher Gregory Rousseau with the No. 30 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, bolstering a pass rush that needed reinforcements.
Rousseau, a 6-foot-7 edge rusher, was viewed as a potential top-five pick in early 2021 NFL mock drafts. However, his stock started to slide after sitting out the 2020 college football season.
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Gregory Rousseau background and impact on Buffalo Bills
When he was on the field, Rousseau was phenomenal. He recorded 24 quarterback hurries and 16 sacks during the 2019 season, earning First-Team All-ACC honors and was voted to the 2019 Freshman All-American team.
Ultimately, Rousseau’s decision to sit out this past season backfired. In his absence, Jaelan Phillips stepped in as Miami’s top pass rusher and was taken No. 18 overall by the Miami Dolphins.
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It’s going to take time for Rousseau to take advantage of his length, athleticism and bend off the edge. But the Buffalo Bills have a history of developing pass rushers and Rousseau could be their next success story.
Edge rusher was among Buffalo’s biggest needs. The Bills had the seventh-lowest hurry rate (7.8%), ranked 15th in quarterback knockdowns (55) and 23rd in pressure rate (22.2%), per Pro Football Reference.