30 most important Buffalo Bills players of 2025: No. 7 Greg Rousseau
Leading up to the season, we will be counting down the top 30 most important players on the roster. We'll recap their 2024 season, look ahead to what they'll offer in 2025, and tackle the most pressing questions surrounding them this coming year.
Next up on the countdown is Greg Rousseau.
Background
Position: Defensive end
Age at start of season: 25
Experience: Fifth year
2025 cap hit: $5,877,000
2024 recap
Greg Rousseau, although his stats don't measure up to some of the premier pass rushers around the NFL, continues to be an all-round defensive end for the Bills. In 2024, he recorded career-highs in multiple categories, including forced fumbles (3), sacks (8), tackles (53), tackles for loss (16), and QB hits (24). This resulted in a four-year, $80 million extension this offseason, with $54 million guaranteed. He graded as the 12th-best defensive end in the NFL in 2024, according to Pro Football Focus.
2025 outlook
Rousseau will again be the leader of the defensive end room and there are a handful of guys coming in to compete for snaps. The Bills brought in veterans Joey Bosa and Michael Hoecht, and drafted Landon Jackson in the third round, to join the room with Rosseau and A.J. Epenesa. Rousseau is a big part of the defense's future, which is why he was extended. General manager Brandon Beane will be looking for his big-dollar DE to continue to take strides as he has each year since being drafted in the first round in 2021.
Biggest question: Can he reach double-digit sacks?
Rousseau is one of the most well-rounded edge defenders in the game, and it has made him the 13th-highest paid player at his position. But, when it comes to getting sacks, he ranked tied-for-27th in 2024 with eight. Rousseau could be mentioned with the top players at his position if he posted more sacks. With more talent added to the defensive line around him through both the draft and free agency, this may be the year he breaks double digits.
30 Most Important Bills of 2025
Check back as we continue to countdown on our list of the 30 most important Bills ahead of the 2025 season.
No. 30 DT T.J. Sanders, No. 29 LB Dorian Williams, No. 28 DT Larry Ogunjobi, No. 27 Alec Anderson, No. 26 DE A.J. Epenesa, No. 25 DT DaQuan Jones, No. 24 TE Dawson Knox, No. 23 WR Elijah Moore, No. 22 WR Joshua Palmer, No. 21 S Cole Bishop, No. 20 K Tyler Bass, No. 19 WR Keon Coleman, No. 18 G David Edwards, No. 17 DE Joey Bosa, No. 16 G O'Cyrus Torrence, No. 15 CB Max Hairston, No. 14 TE Dalton Kincaid, No. 13 LB Matt Milano, No. 12 DT Ed Oliver, No. 11 S Taylor Tapp, No. 10 RB James Cook, No. 9 C Connor McGovern, No. 8 WR Khalil Shakir.
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