2021 NFL Draft: Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson lead trade-filled mock draft
2021 NFL Draft 1st round, 16th pick
EDGE. Miami. player. Pick Analysis. Gregory Rousseau. 16. 31. Scouting Report
This would be a pretty great scenario for the New York Giants.
The Giants have shown some nice fight in the first year of the Joe Judge era, and there was a point there where they were legitimately competing for the NFC East (or NFC “Least”) crown.
Moving down six spots, getting an additional nice draft pick, and picking up a player with the ceiling of a Gregory Rousseau? That is the very definition of a “win” in the NFL Draft.
Rousseau didn’t play in 2020 because he opted out of the season, and he has just one big year at Miami for scouts to go off of, but it was a truly huge season.
Rousseau had 54 total tackles for Miami in 2019 including 19.5 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks. He added a pair of forced fumbles.
Although his productivity would indicate otherwise, Rousseau is not the same level of prospect as a guy like Chase Young or one of the Bosa brothers, which is why he’s not in the top five of this mock draft.
Rousseau’s technique needs some work, and more than just a stellar edge player, Rousseau has proven his worth as a guy who can move around the defensive formation and make plays that way. He’s not a traditional edge bender.
Because of the sample size and work needing to be done to his overall game, it would not be a shock to see a talent like Rousseau fall this far or even further.
A team like the Giants could use an upside player like this for their pass rush.