'No Reason Why' Buffalo Bills Won't Pick Up Greg Rousseau's Fifth Year Option - Report

Greg Rousseau's role with the Buffalo Bills has gradually expanded since he arrived as a first-round pick in 2021.

New England Patriots quarterback Bailey Zappe (4) barely escapes being sacked in the end zone by / Jamie Germano/Rochester Democrat and

Greg Rousseau appears to be on his way back for another wagon circling.

According to a report from Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN, the Buffalo Bills plan on retaining the defensive lineman for his fifth-year option on the contract originally inked upon his drafting in 2021.

"We have not discussed it a lot, just trying to get through (this period)," Bills general manager Brandon Beane said in Getzenberg's report. "But I don't see any reason why we wouldn't do it."

The deadline for the two sides to agree lands on May 2.

Jan 21, 2024; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills defensive end Greg Rousseau (50) tackles / Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

Rousseau, set to turn 24 this week, has been a reliable prescience among the Western New York front seven since arriving as the 30th pick of the 2021 draft out of Miami. Since then, he has amassed 129 tackles, including 30 for a loss and 17 sacks, as well as 42 further quarterback hits. To date, his best performance as a Bill likely came during his rookie season, when he earned Defensive Player of the Week honors by recording his first interception against three-time Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes in a Sunday night showdown with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Rousseau's rumored return and stability should give the Bills some insurance on the front seven after losing Leonard Floyd to the San Francisco 49ers.

“I want to see him maximize his ability to get hits on the quarterback and to continue to make a difference,"Bills defensive line coach Eric Washington said after a December win over Dallas, per Nick Sabato of the Niagara Gazette. “You get spoiled because you see him do things and you want those things to continue to present themselves."

"Greg is his own worst critic, and we continue to find ways to get to our assignment, to recognize different situations quicker, so that we can impact the play ahead of the play as opposed to with the play.”