The Buffalo Bills understand that when they dish out contract extensions to players on the roster, they are paying on what they hope the player eventually becomes - not necessarily what they have done to this point.
That is precisely what the Bills did with edge rusher Greg Rousseau.
Rousseau's freshly signed four-year deal worth over $80 million came as a surprise to some. After all, the former first round pick out of Miami may have led the team in sacks last season, but he's never put up over 10 in a single year.
His modest 25 sacks in four years is solid, but nowhere near the kind of dominance teams look for in edge rushers making over $20 million per year.
Even still, though, the Bills are hoping the added money insurance will help Rousseau reach that full potential.
"I thought Greg did a nice job, had some good games for us, still showed some ascension," general manager Brandon Beane said at the NFL combine. "I don't think he's necessarily peaked out or anything. I think Greg needs to continue to take another step. We would like to see Greg be a double-digit sack player, and you need, you got to get that quarterback down.
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"I know he would want that too, but I thought Greg was really one of our most consistent D-linemen all year and look forward to him going into Year 5. Hopefully, even taking another step for us."
Buffalo finished 18th in the league in sacks last year in large part due to the fact they didn't have anyone opposite Rousseau to help get to the passer.
That could change this offseason but it only highlights the work Rousseau still needs to do to prove he's worthy of his new money at this point.
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This story was originally published March 9, 2025 at 7:00 AM.