Gregory Rousseau, DE, Miami
A few months ago, Gregory Rousseau was almost unanimously considered the top defensive end prospect in the 2021 NFL Draft. While he is still considered to be one of the top talents in the class, his stock has turned somewhat lukewarm as of late. The biggest knock on Rousseau is an overall lack of experience, as he only had one season of true college production. However, that one season was electric. In 2019, Rousseau recorded 15.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for a loss. He then opted out of the 2020 college season.
The Miami Hurricane is physically imposing at 6’7″ and 265 pounds and shows unique physical talents that, if he had a longer college resume, likely has him firmly as a top 10 player. Rousseau may still go in the top 10, but teams may be hesitant to make the selection with such a limited sample size. Miami deployed Rousseau all over the front seven. Some have expressed concerns about Rousseau’s production being misleading as several of his plays came from beating interior linemen with quickness, which will not translate directly to the NFL.
While concerns exist about Rousseau, it is hard to ignore his on-the-field impact. Regardless of where he lined up, he demands attention. He has above-average pop in his hands and utilizes his length well. He also has incredible agility for his size and makes disengaging from blockers look easy. The long frame of Rousseau looks like it can be filled out further, but he plays with plenty of power and effort in run defense.
Rousseau will have to polish his handwork and look to add some functional strength on swipes and rip moves, but the ability is obvious when you turn on the film. Rousseau has a clear gravitas when on the field.
Unfortunately for Kansas City, Rousseau is likely a top 15 selection. There is potential that he could fall, and Kansas City should consider a move up if Rousseau makes it out of the top 10. The upside is immense and the athletic profile of Rousseau is ideal for the Chiefs defense. Rousseau has the potential to be an instant impact player for Kansas City. Rousseau’s athletic profile makes him unique, but his overall athleticism is reminiscent of Jason Pierre-Paul.