The Buffalo Bills entered the night scheduled to pick 30th overall and that is exactly where they made their pick with the selection of defensive end Gregory Rousseau out of the University of Miami.
He is a player that checks all the boxes a team would want from a pass rusher physically at 6’7″ and 265 pounds. He had an incredible 2019 season in terms of production that jumps off the stat sheet with 15.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for a loss.
The concern though is that this was the only season Rousseau had at the college level. He missed almost the entire 2018 season due to a broken ankle and then opted out of this past season. The fact that there was limited tape combined with a lackluster Pro Day performance by Rousseau saw him fall to a point where the Buffalo Bills had a chance to draft him.
The one thing that jumps out with the selection of Rousseau is that this is a player who may be a year or two away from reaching his full impact and becoming a starter. During his pre-draft press conference, Brandon Beane said that while it would be great to draft a player in the first round who can start right away, they are not going to be afraid to take a player who may need some development.
This certainly fits Rousseau and it makes sense for where the position is currently. They have older veterans at the top of the depth chart with Jerry Hughes and Mario Addison. These are two players who will still be relied on heavily this year along with A.J. Epenesa, Efe Obada, and Daryl Johnson.
Grade for the Buffalo Bills’ selection of Gregory Rousseau: B-
This is a pick that makes sense in terms of his potential and what Brandon Beane said leading up to the NFL Draft. He has the size and put up some great stats in the one year he played at Miami. The concern, and why I grade this pick where I do, is the unknown in terms of only one true season at college and after a season away some lackluster Pro Day numbers.