Bills expected to pick up fifth-year option of former first-round DE

The Bills lost Leonard Floyd in free agency last month, seeing their 2023 hired-gun edge rusher sign with the 49ers. Von Miller‘s 2022 ACL tear also led to the future Hall of Famer displaying concerning form last season. This makes Greg Rousseau a rather important piece as Buffalo retools on defense.

Rousseau has not made a Pro Bowl or produced a 10-sack season, operating more as a sidekick — to Floyd last season and, pre-injury, to Miller in 2022 — but the 2021 first-round pick has played well at points for the Bills. They are likely to push his rookie contract through the 2025 season.

Buffalo has until May 2 to exercise Rousseau’s fifth-year option, which checks in on Tier 3 of the option structure due to the former No. 30 overall pick’s playing time and lack of a Pro Bowl honor. They should be considered likely to exercise the $14.58M figure. GM Brandon Beane said (via ESPN.com’s Alaina Getzenberg), “I don’t see why we wouldn’t” pick up the defensive end’s option.

Rousseau has started all 46 games, including 17 during his rookie season. His single-season sack high came in 2022 (eight); the Miami alum reached that total despite missing four games due to injury. Last season, Rousseau totaled five sacks and a career-high 18 QB hits in 16 games. Floyd, Rousseau and A.J. Epenesa — whom the Bills recently re-signed to a two-year, $12M deal ($6.6M guaranteed at signing) — served as Buffalo’s top D-ends last season, with Miller going sackless after returning from the knee injury.

The Bills have not trusted their homegrown edges since the 2021 season. They gave Miller a six-year, $120M deal in 2022, including guarantees into Year 3. A Miller suspension in connection with a domestic violence arrest would void his 2024 guarantees, which would give the team a decision to make after the 35-year-old edge submitted a concerning 2023 season. Currently, the Bills expect Miller to be on the 2024 roster.

But the team will likely make another move to bring in someone to at least supplement Rousseau and Epenesa. The Bills did add an ex-Commander depth piece , Casey Toohill, recently, but they probably need more help with the position. After trading Boogie Basham to the Giants just before last season, the Bills have Rousseau and Epenesa representing their homegrown DE core. This duo could well stay together through 2025.