Miami Hurricanes DE Greg Rousseau third edge rusher drafted, to Buffalo

After former Miami Hurricanes defensive end, Jaelan Phillips was the first edge rusher taken in the NFL Draft at 18 by the Dolphins, Greg Rousseau was the third at the position by the Buffalo Bills. Miami football fans will be able to keep track of the first Hurricanes teammates taken in the first round since 2015.

Rousseau was drafted exactly where his projected slot was by Pro Football Focus at 29.7. In a 2019 breakout season, Rousseau had 54 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, 15.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. Rousseau opted out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19. Rousseau joins a Bills team that was 15th in sacks in 2020.

Many of the analysts’ projections of Rousseau have been that he is a player that could need time to develop. Going to Buffalo, Rousseau joins a Bills team that had an 9-0 lead over the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game after the first quarter. K.C. scored 24 of the next 27 points on their way to a 38-24 win.

Buffalo generated four sacks in the AFC Championship game loss to K.C. The Bills used a pass rush by committee in 2020. Linebacker A.J. Klein and DE Mario Addison led Buffalo with five sacks. Rousseau has the versatility to rush from the edge or inside and drop back into coverage as he showed with the Miami Hurricanes.

Kansas City shredded Buffalo for 439 rushing yards and 325 passing in the AFC Championship Game. Rousseau joins the Bills 4-3 defense that suits his skills. It’s questionable if Rousseau would have been able to line up at defensive tackle in a 3-4 defense. Rousseau can be effective as a situational pass rusher as a rookie.

Addison and Jerry Hughes are the Bills starting DEs. Buffalo drafted DE A.J. Espensa in the second round with the 54th pick overall in the 2020 NFL Draft. Hughes is entering his 12th season in 2021. In the modern NFL teams are stacking pass rushers and Rousseau joining Buffalo and a young team on the rise is a good situation.