Miami Hurricanes DE Greg Rousseau potentially Indianapolis Colts perfect fit
Miami Hurricanes defensive end Greg Rousseau had a breakout season in his only year on the field in college in 2019. Rousseau had 54 tackles,19.5 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks despite not becoming a starter until about halfway through the season. Teams are intrigued by the length Rousseau brings at 6’6.
Despite opting out of the 2020 season, Rousseau is expected to be one of the first two DEs chose in the 2021 NFL Draft with another former Miami Hurricanes DE, Jaelan Phillips. With Rousseau out in 2020, Phillips recorded 45 tackles, 15.5 TFLs and 8.0 sacks in 11 games to the 13 the Miami Hurricanes played in 2019.
Indianapolis holds the 21st pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Pro Football Focus stated adding an edge rusher is one of the two biggest needs for Indianapolis in the 2021 NFL Draft after only adding Issac Rochelle who had 2.5 sacks for the Los Angeles Chargers in 2020. Rousseau could be a situational pass rusher as a rookie.
Indianapolis finished 12th in the NFL in sacks in 2020 led by veteran DeForest Buckner with 9.5. Rousseau is 19th on the NFL Mock Draft database big board. Phillips is slightly behind Rousseau at 24th. The Washington Football team holds the 19th pick but they are unlikely to draft an edge rusher after taking Chase Young in 2020.
"“On the other side of the ball, the Colts have one of the better defenses in football and will be looking to beef up their defensive line alongside DeForest Buckner. In steps Gregory Rousseau, an absolute athletic specimen at 6-foot-6, 260 pounds. The last we saw from Rousseau was in 2019 when he led the ACC in sacks (15).Rousseau saw a ton of success bouncing inside and engaging the smaller guard with his size and reach. He is still unproven on the edge with a limited move set against tackles, but with veterans like Justin Houston and Buckner to help mentor him early in his career, Rousseau can terrorize AFC South quarterbacks for years to come.”"
Playing next to veteran edge rushers Buckner and Houston would help Rousseau learn the NFL and not push pressure on him to produce immediately. The ability to be a situational pass rusher would allow Indianapolis defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus to move the versatile Rousseau around on the defensive line.
With only one season of competition on the field, Rousseau is likely to be a project in the NFL. NFL teams are fascinated by the skill set Rousseau has at his height. Rousseau is often compared to former Miami DE Calais Campbell. Campbell was 6’8 253 pounds at Miami. Entering his 14th season in the NFL he now weighs 300.
Next. Phillips and Rousseau can make NFL Draft history. dark
Campbell was the 2017 NFL Defensive Player of the Year for the Jacksonville Jaguars has been named All-NFL In five different seasons and was on the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team. Rousseau can be a situational player in 2020, continue to fill out muscularly and work his way into being a viable NFL edge rusher.