After being the 30th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, former Miami Hurricanes defensive end Greg Rousseau will reunite with his former college teammate Jaquan Johnson with the Buffalo Bills. Johnson and Rousseau were Miami teammates when Johnson was a senior and Rousseau a true freshman in 2018.
After breaking his ankle in the second week of the season, Rousseau had to take a medical redshirt. Johnson was a sixth-round pick of Buffalo in the 2019 NFL Draft. Rousseau went on to a breakout 2019 season with Miami recording 54 tackles and 19.5 tackles for loss. Johnson was a great leader as a two-year starter for Miami.
In the NFL, Johnson has spent most of his two seasons in Buffalo as a backup and special teams player but would be a good mentor for Rousseau in the NFL. Former Miami offensive lineman Jon Felicano is entering his third season with Buffalo and seventh in the NFL. Felicano has started all 25 games he has played in Buffalo.
Rousseau is likely to be a situational pass rusher who can line up as an edge rusher or inside. With an 83 inch wingspan, Rousseau will be a perfect player to play on the field goal and punt coverage teams to potentially block kicks. Rousseau has often been compared to former Miami Hurricanes DL Calais Campbell who is 6’8.
Campbell has seven blocked kicks during his NFL career, including three during the 2011 season. Buffalo can improve a pass rush that finished 15th averaging 2.3 sacks per game in 2020. Rousseau will be joined on the Bills defense line by their second-round pick, edge rusher Carlos Basham from Wake Forest.
Johnson is second on the Bills depth chart at safety behind Micah Hyde. In two NFL seasons, Johnson has recorded 12 tackles. Johnson tied a career-high with three tackles in the 27-24 Buffalo victory over Indianapolis in the wildcard round last season. Johnson’s experience should help Rousseau acclimate to the NFL.