The tide is turning from the NFL free agency frenzy to the 2021 NFL Draft and one of the most intriguing names on the board is Gregory Rousseau. Rousseau, who stands at 6-foot-7 and weighs 265 pounds, is a defensive end from Miami who looks like he could be a force to be reckoned with in the NFL for years to come.
While Rousseau has a lot of upside, he’s been gaining a lot more traction as a potential faller in the approaching NFL Draft. Rousseau put up some very underwhelming numbers at his Pro Day and the fact that he sat for an entire year after putting together one breakout season for the Hurricanes has raised a lot of skepticism.
Rousseau has the ability to be the next JJ Watt or the next Michael Sam, there’s really no in between it seems. In 2019, Rousseau logged 54 total tackles, 19.5 tackles for a loss, 15.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and one pass defended for Miami.
While there is loads of uncertainty in picking a player like Rousseau, the potential is surely there. Let’s take a look at the four best landing spots for Miami edge rusher Gregory Rousseau.
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints suffered a major blow this offseason when Trey Hendrickson opted to sign a contract with the Cincinnati Bengals instead of the Saints, and they could be looking for his replacement in the upcoming NFL Draft. One of the players the Saints could have their sights set on is none other than Miami edge rusher Gregory Rousseau.
Sure, the Saints still have Marcus Davenport, Carl Granderson, and a recently signed Tanoh Kpassagnon to play opposite of Cameron Jordan, but none of those guys have proven they can play at a high level on a consistent basis. Davenport’s contract is close to expiring and due to his inconsistent production he may not get re-signed.
While it may seem like a stretch, the Saints value pass rushers more than any other position on the defense and they could add another project player in Rousseau. Rousseau would be able to have a lesser role in 2021 and could develop behind some stars in Cam Jordan and David Onyemata on the New Orleans defensive line.
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins have a pair of first-round draft picks this year and they could use their number 18 overall pick to land some great defensive end talent. One of the multitude of players the Miami Dolphins could have their eyes on resides just down the road in Gregory Rousseau.
Miami could use some additional pass rushers and they could snag a guy they’ve been able to see in person. Rousseau played his college football for the University of Miami and staying in Southern Florida could be a dream destination for Rousseau.
While the Dolphins aren’t strictly going to draft a guy because of the fact that he’s local, his impressive play could do the talking. Rousseau is a raw talent, but the Dolphins have a lot of faith in their coaching staff to develop the league’s next stars. He could be the next project for the team.
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos could use the services of a young complimentary pass rusher and they could set their sights on Miami defensive end Gregory Rousseau. The Broncos have had conversations with Rousseau and they seem to value him enough to release an article highlighting the talents of the first round prospect.
Von Miller could be a great mentor to the young defensive end and the Broncos could continue to stockpile talent on their defense like they used to have. The Broncos need to have as many talented pass rushers as possible to get continuous pressure on Patrick Mahomes and Derek Carr, and Rousseau could be a great way to help them achieve that goal.
Rousseau needs a solid coaching staff and good teammates to help ease his transition to the NFL and the Broncos could be that for him. Rousseau suiting up for the Broncos just seems to make too much sense and I wouldn’t be surprised if the two sides teamed up on NFL Draft Day.
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are going to be in need for an additional defensive end to partner up with Myles Garrett and they could have their guy in Gregory Rousseau. These two sides seem to be very much interested in each other and the two sides could unite during the upcoming NFL Draft.
Rousseau was asked about what it would be like playing alongside defensive end Myles Garrett to which he replied:
“It would be amazing, Myles Garrett is a freak athlete.”
There is no doubt that this pick could make sense as the Browns love to add project players to their defense.
We witnessed the Browns heavily pursue defensive end Jadeveon Clowney last offseason, which means they are actively searching for a pure pass rusher, which is what Rousseau is. If the Browns landed Rousseau in the 2021 NFL Draft, it would be a job well done.
