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Gregory Rousseau

Contract Details: Allen, Bills, Bears, Giants, Adebo, Packers, Hobbs, Chiefs, Saints

March 13th, 2025 at 2:27pm CST by Sam Robinson

Starting with one monster Bills extension and another big-ticket deal, here are the latest contract details from around the NFL:

  • Josh Allen, QB (Bills): Six years, $330MM. Classified as a two-year add-on that provides the reigning MVP with a roughly $90MM raise, the deal includes some key dates. On fully guaranteed salaries in 2025 and ’26, Allen will see all of his 2027 pay become fully guaranteed on Day 5 of the 2026 league year, per OverTheCap. On Day 5 of the 2027 league year, Allen’s 53.5MM salary locks in. $14MM of Allen’s 2029 roster bonus ($22.3MM) becomes guaranteed on Day 5 of the 2028 league year. Allen will be due a $35MM roster bonus on Day 5 of the 2029 league year. He is tied to a $41.3MM cap number in 2025, but restructures are likely coming; his cap hit spikes to $61.4MM in 2026.
  • Gregory Rousseau, DE (Bills). Four years, $80MM. Rousseau will see $49MM guaranteed at signing, OverTheCap notes, while his 2025 and ’26 base salaries are fully guaranteed. The Bills are providing guarantees into Year 3, as KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson notes that $5MM of Rousseau’s $16.41MM base is locked in already. The rest will shift from an injury guarantee to a full guarantee on Day 5 of the 2027 league year. A $3MM roster bonus is also in place on Day 5 of the 2029 league year.
  • Paulson Adebo, CB (Giants). Three years, $54MM. The young cornerback will see $34.75MM guaranteed at signing. Despite Adebo only signing a three-year deal, that full guarantee ranks 10th among corners. The Giants guaranteed $13.5MM of Adebo’s $17.25MM 2026 salary, ESPN.com’s Katherine Terrell tweets. The rest becomes guaranteed on Day 5 of the 2026 league year.
  • Dayo Odeyingbo, DE (Bears): Three years, $48MM. The ex-Colt will see $29.5MM guaranteed at signing, per OverTheCap. $13MM of Odeyingbo’s $15.5MM 2026 base salary is guaranteed at signing, with Wilson adding the rest locks in on Day 3 of the 2026 league year. A $1MM roster bonus is also due on Day 5 of the 2027 league year; Odeyingbo’s 2027 base is nonguaranteed.
  • Nate Hobbs, CB (Packers). Four years, $48MM. While Hobbs is guaranteed $16MM at signing, the general Packers contract structure resurfaces here. Reminding of Josh Jacobs‘ 2024 deal (also 4/48), his former Raiders teammate has no guarantees beyond that $16MM signing bonus, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio notes. A $6.25MM roster bonus is due on Day 3 of the 2026 league year, Wilson tweets. The Packers typically do not guarantee second-year salaries, but they would be out $12MM in dead money if they move in on 2026 — due to signing bonus prorations.
  • Darius Slayton, WR (Giants). Three years, $36MM. Now on a third Giants contract, Slayton will receive $22MM at signing, Wilson tweets. That is $10MM more than his second contract was worth in total. Slayton’s 2026 salary is mostly guaranteed, with Wilson adding $9.75MM of that $12.25MM is locked in. A $2.5MM roster bonus in place on Day 5 of the 2027 league year.
  • Juwan Johnson, TE (Saints). Three years, $30.75MM. Johnson will see $21.25MM at signing, with Wilson adding his 2025 and ’26 base salaries are guaranteed. Johnson’s 2027 paragraph 5 number ($7.5MM) is nonguaranteed, but a $2MM roster bonus is due on Day 5 of the 2027 league year.
  • Jaylon Moore, T (Chiefs). Two years, $30MM. The Chiefs are guaranteeing their new left tackle hopeful $21.24MM at signing. A career-long 49ers backup, Moore will see $7MM of his $14.24MM 2026 base salary guaranteed at signing, Wilson tweets.

Bills Extend DE Gregory Rousseau

March 8th, 2025 at 10:58am CST by Sam Robinson

The Bills are checking several items off their to-do list before free agency. After extending Khalil Shakir and Terrel Bernard, they have a deal in place with Gregory Rousseau.

Buffalo’s top pass rusher agreed to terms on a four-year, $80MM extension Saturday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. Rousseau will see $54MM guaranteed. The Bills have announced the extension. This will keep a cornerstone piece in Buffalo through 2029, which coincides with the timelines Shakir and Bernard’s contracts created. Rousseau was going into his fifth-year option season.

Although the Bills looked to have Von Miller humming as their top pass rusher during his 2022 season, the future Hall of Famer’s Thanksgiving ACL tear changed the equation. Miller has not closely resembled his pre-tear form, but Rousseau coming along gave the Bills vital support during that period. With Miller’s future in Buffalo uncertain, Rousseau is staying on what could be a team-friendly deal.

Rousseau’s $20MM AAV checks in 13th among edge rushers. His $54MM total guarantee comes in ninth. While Rousseau has yet to make a Pro Bowl roster or post a 10-sack year, he is only going into his age-25 season. The Miami product is likely only coming into his prime. It is quite possible the Bills will generate considerable value on this pact, which was agreed to after another cap spike ($24MM).

In terms of rate as his position, Bernard has fared the best among the three early Bills extension recipients. James Cook is asking for a high-end running back contract, and Christian Benford will command an upper-crust CB salary. But Rousseau and Shakir did not approach the top tier at their respective positions.

Rousseau matched his career high with eight sacks last season but established a new personal standard with 24 QB hits and 16 tackles for loss. Even as Miller returned to usable form, after a woeful 2023, Rousseau remained the Bills’ D-end anchor. The team still has A.J. Epenesa signed as well and has been mentioned as a Myles Garrett suitor (in the event the Browns relent on their no-trade stance), but this extension shows faith in Rousseau.

The Bills now have both their cornerstone D-linemen on what look like favorable contracts. They inked Ed Oliver to an extension in 2023; the former first-rounder’s deal now checks in 17th among D-tackles. Rousseau opted to avoid a contract year and potential 2026 franchise tag by taking a $20MM-per-year deal now. That might not have been the best value play, but it will ensure he is a long-term Buffalo cog. The $54MM guarantee is not anything to scoff at, either.

Bills Not Ruling Out Keeping Von Miller; Myles Garrett On Buffalo Radar?

March 2nd, 2025 at 10:05pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Chiefs’ Joe Thuney-at-left tackle solution looked passable in the team’s latest playoff win over the Bills, the AFC champions’ lone game with more than 30 points this season. Buffalo has seen improvement from Gregory Rousseau, but its pass rush has not seen enough from Von Miller‘s six-year $120MM contract.

Year 4 of that deal brings the first genuine release opportunity, and that is a legitimate consideration for the five-time reigning AFC East champions. Miller’s guarantees have been paid out. Were the Bills to move on from their highest-paid defender via a post-June 1 release designation, they would save $17.44MM. It is not certain that is how the team proceeds.

Miller is not a lock to be cut, with ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler classifying it as an iffy proposition. Miller could come back as an auxiliary rusher, though a reworked contract — most likely via a pay cut — would be necessary. The future Hall of Fame edge rusher is due to carry a $23.8MM cap number in 2025.

Rousseau and Miller remain under contract, as does former second-rounder A.J. Epenesa. Both Miller and Epenesa tallied six sacks last season; Rousseau led the way with eight. Neither Miller nor Epenesa recorded a postseason sack, while Rousseau notched each of his before the Chiefs rematch.

Rousseau remains one of the players the Bills want to extend, per ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano. Rousseau joins 2022 draftees Christian Benford and Terrel Bernard on Buffalo’s radar. We heard that was the case previously, and all are in contract years. The Bills have already started on their 2025 re-ups, giving Khalil Shakir a four-year extension. James Cook wants in, too, as he joins Rousseau, Benford and Bernard in a contract year.

The Bills also are likely to have an eye on another future Hall of Fame edge defender, one with more left in the tank. As the Browns reiterate they want no part of a Myles Garrett trade, the 2023 Defensive Player of the Year keeps coming up. That is understandable, as Cleveland could collect a big trade package for its disgruntled superstar, who is not believed to be interested in a second Browns extension. As Browns brass would be ready to pay Garrett despite two seasons remaining on his contract, he is holding firm on his trade request.

The Eagles have been linked to Garrett at multiple points this offseason, and Graziano adds the Bills should be viewed as an interested party as well. Buffalo took a big swing on Miller in 2022, and it was going well before the two-time Super Bowl winner’s second ACL tear — sustained on Thanksgiving that year. Miller then failed to record a sack in 2023, as he barely resembled his pre-injury version. Miller returned to better form in his age-35 season but obviously pales in comparison to Garrett’s mid-2020s form. Garrett will turn 30 in December.

As the Browns keep fending off Garrett trade calls, Fowler adds they are believed to be dug in and willing to wait him out. It would stand to reason the Browns would hold on both due to Garrett’s importance to the team and his contract. If the Browns deal Garrett before June 1, they would be hit with a $36.2MM dead money bill. That would set the non-QB record. If Cleveland decides to move on after that date, it could split that amount over two years.

That said, the Browns would presumably be making Garrett’s next team better by trading him. Waiting until after the draft to make a trade would leave them with a package fronted by 2026 draft assets, whereas a deal now would arm the Browns with better picks. Though, a Bills or Eagles package now would not exactly do so due to the teams holding the Nos. 30 and 32 first-round picks. A first-rounder would be required to enter any Garrett trade sweepstakes, with other assets likely necessary for the Browns to have serious conversations about relenting on their long-held stance.

Not too many calls have come Cleveland’s way, however, according to Fowler. Teams do believe the Browns are “dug in” here. That remaining the case come training camp would put Garrett to a test in terms of accruing fines for missing camp workouts and then moving on to game checks. Though, the Browns have restructured Garrett’s contract; he would not be missing much in terms of paragraph 5 money, as his salary is $1.26MM.

Some around the league are skeptical the Browns will truly hang on here, per Fowler, even as Andrew Berry continues to insist they will. The prospect of collecting a trade package that could include multiple first-round picks may be too much to turn down. Garrett has themed his trade ask around landing with a Super Bowl contender, and if the Browns hold their ground beyond the draft, camp will be the next stage of this impasse.

Bills See RB James Cook As Core Player; Team Plans To Bolster CB Group In Offseason

February 9th, 2025 at 12:44pm CST by Rory Parks

The Bills see running back James Cook as a “big part” of their future, as Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported last month (video link). That is hardly surprising, as Cook has posted a robust 4.9 yards-per-carry average over his first three years in the NFL and led the league in rushing touchdowns (16) in 2024.

Because Cook, a 2022 draftee, is now eligible for an extension, it would be fair to expect Buffalo to engage in contract discussions with the two-time Pro Bowler’s camp this offseason (especially since he is a former second-round pick and does not have a fifth-year option included in his rookie deal). The problem, as Rapoport observes, is that Cook is just one of a number of talented young players whose contract situations may need to be addressed in short order.

Like Cook, linebacker Terrel Bernard, center Connor McGovern, cornerback Christian Benford, and edge defender Gregory Rousseau are all entering platform years, and Rapoport identifies that quintet as a group that could be in line for a new deal. GM Brandon Beane could deploy the franchise tag on one of those players next offseason if need be, but he will still have plenty of work to do to keep a championship-caliber core intact.

Indeed, despite the Bills’ inability to get over a Kansas City-sized hump in the AFC playoff field, Beane understandably is not going to overhaul his roster. In his end-of-season presser following another difficult playoff defeat at the hands of the Chiefs several weeks ago, Beane said he and his staff will “reset” and “recalibrate” as the Bills seek to advance to the Super Bowl for the first time since the 1993 campaign (via Alex White and Maddy Glab of the team’s official website, who also name WR Khalil Shakir as a rising fourth-year pro who might be the target of extension talks).

Part of Beane’s offseason plan will almost certainly include negotiations with at least some members of Buffalo’s 2026 free agent class, but Beane naturally indicated he will first attend to the players who are due to hit the open market next month. That list includes players like midseason trade acquisition Amari Cooper – whose disappointing Buffalo stint did not foreclose the possibility of a new contract keeping the high-profile wideout in western New York – and cornerback Rasul Douglas.

Beane said he will not bloat the Bills’ salary cap picture with expensive contracts in an effort to slay their playoff demons, which is perhaps an indication that Buffalo will once again avoid the deep end of the free agent pool. However, he did concede that he will need to address the team’s outside cornerback position in some way.

The Bills’ lack of depth in that regard was on full display when Benford was injured in the first quarter of this year’s AFC Championship Game against the Chiefs and was lost for the remainder of the contest. That depth will become even more of a concern if the team does not re-sign Douglas.

“Whether it’s extending guys, signing a free agent, or draft allocation, [boundary corner] is one of the areas we would look at,” Beane said.

Underlying all of this is the fact that the Bills could look to give quarterback and newly-minted MVP Josh Allen a pay bump. If such a raise comes as part of an extension or restructure, it could allow the team to reduce Allen’s $43MM cap charge for 2025 and improve their salary cap situation (at present, OverTheCap.com estimates that Buffalo is roughly $14MM over the 2025 cap, the third-worst situation in the league).

Bills Exercise Greg Rousseau’s Fifth-Year Option

April 29th, 2024 at 11:38am CST by Adam La Rose

With the deadline for fifth-year options approaching, teams around the league are required to make firm decisions on 2021 first-round picks. In the Bills’ case, they will retain edge rusher Greg Rousseau for at least the next two years.

[RELATED: Fifth-Year Option Tracker]

Buffalo will pick up Rousseau’s option, Peter Schrager of NFL Network reports. This comes as little surprise, as a report from earlier this month indicated that would be the Bills’ preference. Rousseau will collect $13.39MM in 2025 as he remains a full-time starter moving forward. The option decision is now official, per a team announcement.

The 24-year-old was one of his draft class’ more intriguing prospects after he opted out of the 2020 college season. As a result of that decision, he played only 14 games at Miami, one of which came in his freshman campaign. The following year, though, he racked up 15.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss with the Hurricanes, showcasing his upside at the pro level.

Rousseau went 30th overall to the Bills, a team which has incrementally increased his usage year over year. The 6-6, 266-pounder has logged snap shares of 49%, 56% and 60% during his three years in Buffalo. Despite being limited to 13 games in 2022, that season represents his most productive one to date (eight sacks). Rousseau notched five sacks last year, though he reached a new career high with 25 QB pressures.

The Bills saw Leonard Floyd depart in free agency this offseason, and Von Miller was held without a sack in his second campaign with the team. As a result, Rousseau will be counted on as a key member of Buffalo’s front seven for at least the next two years. Fellow defensive end A.J. Epenesa recently signed a two-year deal which prevented him from heading elsewhere on the open market, and he will also take on a notable role.

The latter’s pact carries a base value of $12MM, though, and Rousseau will outpace him in earnings during the 2025 season given the decision to pick up his option. An extension could also be in play down the road, especially if he enjoys a career year in 2024. It will be interesting to see if Rousseau joins Miller in landing a lucrative long-term deal tying him to Buffalo for the foreseeable future. For now, though, he is positioned to continue in a first-team role as the Bills transition at a number of spots on defense.

2025 NFL Fifth-Year Option Tracker

April 24th, 2024 at 10:57pm CST by Sam Robinson

NFL teams have until May 2 to officially pick up fifth-year options on 2021 first-rounders. The 2020 CBA revamped the option structure and made them fully guaranteed, rather than guaranteed for injury only. Meanwhile, fifth-year option salaries are now determined by a blend of the player’s position, initial draft placement and performance- and usage-based benchmarks:

  • Two-time Pro Bowlers (excluding alternates) will earn the same as their position’s franchise tag
  • One-time Pro Bowlers will earn the equivalent of the transition tag
  • Players who achieve any of the following will receive the average of the third-20th-highest salaries at their position:
    • At least a 75% snap rate in two of their first three seasons
    • A 75% snap average across all three seasons
    • At least 50% in each of first three seasons
  • Players who do not hit any of those benchmarks will receive the average of the third-25th top salaries at their position

With the deadline looming, we will use the space below to track all the option decisions from around the league:

  1. QB Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars ($25.66MM): Exercised
  2. QB Zach Wilson, Broncos* ($22.41MM): Declined
  3. QB Trey Lance, Cowboys** ($22.41MM): Declined
  4. TE Kyle Pitts, Falcons ($10.88MM): Exercised
  5. WR Ja’Marr Chase, Bengals ($21.82MM): Exercised
  6. WR Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins ($15.59MM): Exercised
  7. T Penei Sewell, Lions ($19MM): Extended through 2029
  8. CB Jaycee Horn, Panthers ($12.47MM): Exercised
  9. CB Patrick Surtain, Broncos ($19.82MM): Exercised
  10. WR DeVonta Smith, Eagles ($15.59MM): Extended through 2028
  11. QB Justin Fields, Steelers*** ($25.66MM): Declined
  12. DE Micah Parsons, Cowboys ($21.32MM): Exercised
  13. T Rashawn Slater, Chargers ($19MM): Exercised
  14. OL Alijah Vera-Tucker, Jets ($13.31MM): Exercised
  15. QB Mac Jones, Jaguars**** ($25.66MM): Declined
  16. LB Zaven Collins, Cardinals ($13.25MM): Declined
  17. T Alex Leatherwood, Raiders: N/A
  18. LB Jaelan Phillips, Dolphins ($13.3MM): Exercised
  19. LB Jamin Davis, Commanders ($14.48MM): Declined
  20. WR Kadarius Toney, Chiefs***** ($14.35MM): Declined
  21. DE Kwity Paye, Colts ($13.4MM): Exercised
  22. CB Caleb Farley, Titans ($12.47MM): Declined
  23. T Christian Darrisaw, Vikings ($16MM): Exercised
  24. RB Najee Harris, Steelers ($6.79MM): Declined
  25. RB Travis Etienne, Jaguars ($6.14MM): Exercised
  26. CB Greg Newsome, Browns ($13.38MM): To be exercised
  27. WR Rashod Bateman, Ravens ($14.35MM): N/A; extended through 2026
  28. DE Payton Turner, Saints ($13.39MM): Declined
  29. CB Eric Stokes, Packers ($12.47MM): Declined
  30. DE Greg Rousseau, Bills ($13.39MM): Exercised
  31. LB Odafe Oweh, Ravens ($13.25MM): Exercised
  32. LB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, Buccaneers ($13.25MM): Declined

* = Jets traded Wilson on April 22, 2024
** = 49ers traded Lance on August 25, 2023
*** = Bears traded Fields on March 16, 2024
**** = Patriots traded Jones on March 10, 2024
***** = Giants traded Toney on October 27, 2022

Bills Expected To Pick Up Greg Rousseau’s Fifth-Year Option

April 2nd, 2024 at 1:09pm CST by Sam Robinson

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 $14.58MM 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 he has played, 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, $12MM deal ($6.6MM 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 on their own since the 2021 season. They gave Miller a six-year, $120MM deal in 2022, one that included 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. As of now, 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 ex-Commanders depth piece Casey Toohill recently, but they probably need a bit more help at 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.

Bills DE Greg Rousseau Changes Agents

June 11th, 2023 at 8:06am CST by Rory Parks

Bills defensive end Greg Rousseau is entering the all-important third season of his NFL career, and he has made a change in representation. Per Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network (Twitter link), Rousseau, who was previously represented by Drew Rosenhaus, has hired Ness Mugrabi and David Canter of GSE Worldwide.

Once a player accrues three years of service time, he becomes extension-eligible. So while Rousseau obviously needs to complete the 2023 season before he and his new agents can enter into negotiations with Buffalo brass, Mugrabi and Canter will at least have plenty of time to get familiar with their client and prepare for those discussions.

Rousseau, the No. 30 overall pick in the 2021 draft, took a step forward in his second professional campaign in 2022, despite missing time with an ankle injury. The Miami (FL) product posted eight sacks last season after recording four sacks in his rookie year, and he earned a stellar 80.9 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, which placed him 20th out of 119 qualified edge defenders. PFF thought especially highly of his pass rushing ability, which is the most critical trait for his future earning power.

That said, Rousseau accumulated four of his eight sacks in the first four games of the season, so the Bills will be looking for more consistent production if they are going to authorize a contract that will put him anywhere near the top tier of edge players, who are among the biggest earners in the NFL. Indeed, unless he forces the team’s hand with a Pro Bowl-worthy year, Buffalo may be content to play the waiting game, as Rousseau will still be on his rookie deal through 2024 and can be retained via the fifth-year option in 2025 (and via the franchise tag beyond that).

A review of GSE’s NFL clientele suggests that the agency does not represent many high-end pass rushers, with the Cowboys’ DeMarcus Lawrence a notable exception. No reason was given for Rousseau’s decision to part ways with Rosenhaus.

Latest On Josh Allen’s Status; Jordan Poyer, Greg Rousseau Out For Week 10

November 11th, 2022 at 3:41pm CST by Sam Robinson

The prime catalyst for the Bills’ recent rise, Josh Allen has not missed a game since Week 10 of the 2018 season. That particular Bills campaign — a rebuilding year centered around the quarterback they traded up twice in Round 1 to draft — did not present high stakes, allowing for considerable caution with Allen.

The landscape is different this year, leading to Allen’s latest elbow injury receiving more attention. Allen’s practice week ended up going DNP-DNP-limited, with CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson noting the Bills signed off on a limitation-gauging Friday session (Twitter link). He received the vague questionable injury designation. The superstar quarterback is battling a UCL sprain.

While Allen played through the injury to finish the Jets matchup, this issue also affects nerves — thus, the fifth-year passer’s ability to grip the football — and we have a past indicator of how the Bills handled this injury. Allen, 26, expressed confidence he can play through his latest bout of elbow trouble; it remains to be seen if the Bills will allow that to happen. Concern exists Allen could tear the oft-discussed (in baseball circles) ligament, Armando Salguero of Outkick.com notes. A Tommy John surgery could sideline Allen into next season.

The Bills shut down Allen for four games because of a UCL injury in 2018; the Wyoming talent ended up sitting five weeks due to Buffalo’s bye falling in that recovery window. Allen missing that much time this year may not be in play just yet, with Sean McDermott indicating (via The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia, on Twitter) the team is taking it “one hour at a time” with its centerpiece player.

With a top-tier roster that has pushed the Bills to the Super Bowl contender tier, the team has a better insurance option compared to 2018 as well. Buffalo sent a seventh-round pick (No. 246 overall) to Cleveland for Case Keenum. The 11th-year QB has made 64 career starts, with six teams, since 2013.

Keenum’s most notable year came with the Vikings in 2017, when he led the NFL in quarterback DVOA and — on a one-year, $2MM deal — piloted Minnesota to the NFC championship game. Keenum, 34, is attached to a $3.5MM salary this season. His contract expires after 2022. Although Keenum gives the Bills a decent backup option against the Vikings, the talent gulf between Buffalo’s first- and second-stringers is obviously wide.

The Bills will also be without Jordan Poyer for a second straight week, and second-year defensive end Greg Rousseau will miss Week 10 as well. An ankle injury sustained last week will shelve Rousseau, with cornerback Kaiir Elam also given a doubtful designation. Some good news for Buffalo’s No. 1-ranked scoring defense also emerged this week. Matt Milano is expected to return, Buscaglia tweets. The high-end linebacker missed Week 9 with an oblique issue. The Bills activated Tre’Davious White off the PUP list last week, and while the team’s top corner does not have a Week 10 injury designation, McDermott did not guarantee he would debut Sunday. White has not played since suffering an ACL tear on Thanksgiving 2021.

Edge Notes: Ravens, Lions, Browning, Hawks

October 6th, 2022 at 4:51pm CST by Sam Robinson

After letting both Matt Judon and Yannick Ngakoue walk during the 2021 free agency period, the Ravens acquired a first-round pick in the Orlando Brown Jr. trade. The team entered the draft determined to use one of its two first-round choices on an edge defender, but strategy played a role in the team ending up with Odafe Oweh. The Ravens would have been happy with either Oweh or Greg Rousseau, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic notes, but also wanted to leave last year’s first round with a wide receiver.

We heard previously the Ravens expected the Packers to select Bateman, whom several execs viewed as the team most likely to draft the Big Ten prospect. That played into Baltimore’s edge defender blueprint as well. The team had Oweh and Rousseau ranked similarly on its 2021 draft board, Zrebiec adds, leading to Bateman being prioritized with the No. 27 pick. Waiting for No. 31 to make its edge rusher selection paid off, as Oweh remained on the board. The Bills took Rousseau at 30. (The Packers took cornerback Eric Stokes at 29.) Through 1 1/4 seasons, Oweh has six sacks, four forced fumbles and 17 quarterback hits. Rousseau checks in with similar production, having tallied eight sacks — four already this season — along with one strip and 16 QB hits.

Here is the latest from the NFL’s edge defender landscape:

  • The Ravens used Jason Pierre-Paul extensively alongside Oweh in Week 4, playing the recently signed veteran on 55 defensive snaps. Their one-year Pierre-Paul deal is worth $1.35MM, according to OverTheCap. The contract includes a $150K signing bonus and playing time- and sack-based incentives that could take the price north of $5MM, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets. This is a lower-priced deal than JPP is accustomed to signing, but he has a chance to be the rare free agent to sign in-season and earn potentially far more than the veteran minimum.
  • The Lions will be waiting a bit longer to deploy their two-Okwara edge-rushing attack. Eligible to return from the Lions’ PUP list this week, Romeo Okwara will likely need more time to recover from his 2021 injury, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press notes. Okwara, who suffered an Achilles tear just more than a year ago, did not return to practice this week when first eligible.
  • Detroit’s pass rush, when at full strength, is set to include Romeo and Julian Okwara, Charles Harris and first- and second-round picks Aidan Hutchinson and Josh Paschal. That said, the Lions are adding another edge rusher to the equation. Rookie UDFA Demetrius Taylor is going to play defensive end in his debut this week, Birkett notes. Signed as a UDFA defensive tackle, Taylor will shift to a big D-end role as the Lions attempt to pick up the pieces on defense. This will likely lead to Hutchinson, who had previously played the team’s “big end” spot, rushing from around the formation, per Birkett. Taylor saw some time at D-end at Appalachian State.
  • It will not be second-round pick Nik Bonitto getting the call to replace Randy Gregory; Baron Browning will play that role for the Broncos beginning Thursday night, Troy Renck of Denver7 tweets. This will be an interesting stretch for Browning, whom the Broncos used as an inside linebacker during his 2021 rookie season. The third-round pick moved to the outside this offseason, helping lead to the late-August Malik Reed trade, and has impressed the coaching staff. Bonitto, who began the season as a healthy scratch despite being Denver’s top 2022 draftee, will see more time as a rotational cog behind Browning and Bradley Chubb.
  • The Seahawks will give second-rounder Boye Mafe more playing time, Pete Carroll said this week. This will be interesting considering the rookie logged a season-high 32 defensive snaps against the Lions. Mafe, who has one sack thus far this season, registered 10 in his final college campaign.
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