Bills star receives unwanted honor after forgettable start to season

Despite high hopes and a hefty new contract, one of Buffalos key defensive investments is off to a rocky start in 2025.

The Buffalo Bills made a major commitment to their pass rush this past offseason, locking in Gregory Rousseau to a four-year, $80 million extension. It was a move that spoke volumes about how the organization views Rousseau-not just as a solid contributor, but as a cornerstone piece of their defensive future.

Coming off back-to-back eight-sack seasons over the last three years, Rousseau had shown consistent flashes of high-level potential. And for a team with championship aspirations, the Bills clearly believed that investing in Rousseau now would pay dividends down the line. Rousseau, for his part, embraced the moment with gratitude and focus.

“Just a blessing from God,” he said back in March. “It’s been a special place ever since they picked me in 2021… I’m just ready to go out there and put it all on the line for my teammates.”

But through six games this season, Rousseau’s production hasn’t quite matched the expectations that come with a hefty second contract.

According to Pro Football Focus, Rousseau ranks second on the team in total pressures (16) and hurries (12), which suggests he’s still creating disruption. But the sack numbers tell a different story-just 1.5 so far, tying him for fifth on the team. And when you zoom in on pass-rush efficiency, Rousseau’s win rate of 11.4% ranks fourth among the five Bills defenders with at least 75 pass-rush snaps this season.

That’s not the kind of impact the Bills were hoping for from their top-paid defender.

What makes the situation more glaring is the production coming from other spots across the defense. Interior linemen DaQuan Jones and Ed Oliver, edge-rusher Joey Bosa, and even rookie safety Cole Bishop have all notched more sacks than Rousseau. And when it comes to tackles for loss, Rousseau’s total of two trails behind defensive tackle Deone Walker (seven), Oliver (five), cornerback Tre’Davious White (four), and linebackers Terrel Bernard and Shaq Thompson (three each).

The result? Rousseau has drawn some early-season criticism, including being labeled Buffalo’s most disappointing player so far by at least one national analyst. That’s a tough tag for a player who’s been trending upward for most of his young career.

It’s important to remember, though, that Rousseau’s story isn’t written in six games. This is a player who’s posted 50+ pressures in each of the last three seasons, including a breakout campaign last year with 70 pressures, 42 hurries, and 17 quarterback hits. That kind of production doesn’t come by accident-it comes from a blend of athleticism, technique, and a motor that doesn’t quit.

So while the sack numbers aren’t there yet in 2025, the underlying activity suggests Rousseau is still affecting plays-just not finishing them as often as he, or the Bills, would like.

Buffalo’s defense has the pieces to be elite, and Rousseau remains a big part of that puzzle. The question now is whether he can translate the pressure into production over the back half of the season.

The talent is there. The opportunity is there.

And with the Bills in the thick of another playoff push, the timing couldn’t be more important.