When the Buffalo Bills opted to draft defensive end Greg Rousseau in 2021, they were hoping for a premier edge rusher who could cause pressure in crucial situations. For the last two seasons, Rousseau has been around veterans like Von Miller and Leonard Floyd to learn from. He continues to grow each year and proved his value with the Bills picking up his fifth-year option of his rookie contract.
Teams need a consistent edge rusher in order to have success. If no one is creating pressure on the quarterback, it causes problems for the defense. Trevor Sikkema from Pro Football Focus created a top-32 edge defender list heading into the 2024 season and Rousseau made it on the list as the 25th-best edge rusher. Rousseau was the fourth-listed edge rusher from the AFC East behind Jaelen Phillips, Bradley Chubb, and Haason Reddick. Right behind Rousseau is New England Patriots veteran Matthew Judon. In addition, Rousseau was the only Buffalo Bills that was put on this list.
Last season with the Bills, Rousseau played in 16 games and recorded 5 sacks, 42 tackles, 4 pass deflections, and had a career-high 18 QB hits. Rousseau has become an important player in the Buffalo defense and is constantly around the football. While Rousseau is looking to improve his game, he is a perfect fit for the Bills.
One factor that helps Rousseau’s game to create pressure is other edge rushers that the Bills have and had last season. The Bills had a great pass rush with Rousseau and Floyd, especially early on last season. Not having to be double-teamed is a positive and with Rousseau's size, he is able to win matchups. He does need to improve his consistency when it comes to crucial situations but we have seen it from time to time.