The Payments are checking a number of objects off their to-do listing earlier than free company. After extending Khalil Shakir and Terrel Bernard, they’ve a deal in place with Gregory Rousseau.
Buffalo’s high pass-rusher agreed to phrases on a four-year, $80M extension Saturday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reviews. Rousseau will see $54M assured. The Payments have introduced the extension. This can preserve a cornerstone piece in Buffalo by means of 2029, which coincides with the timelines Shakir’s and Bernard’s contracts created. Rousseau was going into his fifth-year possibility season.
Though the Payments appeared to have Von Miller buzzing as their high pass-rusher throughout his 2022 season, the longer term Corridor of Famer’s Thanksgiving ACL tear modified the equation. Miller has not intently resembled his pre-tear type, however Rousseau coming alongside gave the Payments important assist throughout that interval. With Miller’s future in Buffalo unsure, Rousseau is staying on what could possibly be a team-friendly deal.
Rousseau’s $20M AAV checks in thirteenth amongst edge rushers. His $54M complete assure is available in ninth. Whereas Rousseau has but to make a Professional Bowl roster or put up a 10-sack 12 months, he’s solely going into his age-25 season. The Miami product is probably going solely coming into his prime. It’s fairly doable the Payments will generate appreciable worth on this pact, which was agreed to after one other cap spike ($24M).
By way of price as his place, Bernard has fared the perfect among the many three early Payments extension recipients. James Cook dinner is asking for a high-end operating again contract, and Christian Benford will command an upper-crust CB wage. However Rousseau and Shakir didn’t method the highest tier at their respective positions.
Rousseau matched his profession excessive with eight sacks final season however established a brand new private commonplace with 24 QB hits and 16 tackles for loss. At the same time as Miller returned to usable type, after a woeful 2023, Rousseau remained the Payments’ D-end anchor. The group nonetheless has A.J. Epenesa signed as properly and has been talked about as a Myles Garrett suitor (within the occasion the Browns relent on their no-trade stance), however this extension exhibits religion in Rousseau.
The Payments now have each their cornerstone D-linemen on what seem like favorable contracts. They inked Ed Oliver to an extension in 2023; the previous first-rounder’s deal now checks in seventeenth amongst D-tackles. Rousseau opted to keep away from a contract 12 months and potential 2026 franchise tag by taking a $20M-per-year deal now. Which may not have been the perfect worth play, however it should guarantee he’s a long-term Buffalo cog. The $54M assure just isn’t something to scoff at, both.
