2021 NFL Draft: Three-round 2021 NFL mock draft with top 10 surprises
2021 NFL Draft: Round 1, 17th Overall
Miami (FL). 17. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 53. EDGE. Gregory Rousseau
Gregory Rousseau is considered by most to be the top edge rusher in the 2021 NFL Draft class and could easily end up going much higher than this. That being said, Rousseau is certainly a bit of a project player who I believe could slide further than most expect. I am not saying that this is the most likely outcome, but Rousseau falling a bit after sitting out the 2020 season is certainly possible.
Myles Garrett is growing into one of the premier edge rushers in the NFL, but his running mate, Olivier Vernon, becomes an unrestricted free agent this offseason. The Cleveland Browns could certainly look to bring Vernon back into the fold, but investing in one early in the 2021 NFL draft would make sense for the team as well.
Last season, Rousseau was a consistent force on the edge, piling up 15.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss. He is extremely quick off of the ball and bends around the edge with absolute ease. Rousseau’s game is built on pure speed and his ridiculous natural athleticism consistently puts pressure on the opposing offensive line.
Rousseau is undoubtedly an exciting talent with massive upside, but he does not set the edge particularly well and has a limited pass-rush repertoire at this point in his career. That being said, Rousseau’s raw talent and upside are undoubtedly worth taking a shot on for a team like the Browns in this range.