Greg Rousseau Extended (4 years / 80M / 54M Guaranteed)

[sven233]

23 minutes ago, JakeFrommStateFarm said:

Couldn't we have gotten Hendrickson for a little bit more ?

 

Still can!  A move like this actually makes a big signing or trade more likely, not less likely.  This, along with the Shakir and Bernard extensions all help create more cap room for this season to go out and sign guys.

 

The more signings and restructures we hear about, the better for this season!  As long as they are not out of whack value wise (ie. Cook getting $15+ million), then it's a good thing.  The guaranteed money on all these contracts have been good value overall for the team and here's hoping we keep seeing more.

[frostbitmic]

Seems as if there's a lot of coffee and pizza boxes over at One Bills Drive this weekend and that's a good thing.

 

Benford, Cook, McGovern, stop on by for a cup and a slice.

[Logic]

 

[HappyDays]

8 minutes ago, Logic said:

For those saying it takes us out of the "insert favorite trade target or free agent here" market: No it doesn't. If anything, it helps, because this deal likely lowered his cap hit for this season.

 

That only matters for one year deals. If we want to pay someone like Hendrickson or Metcalf, their contract is going to line up with the three contracts we just handed out. So yes extending this caliber of player absolutely makes it more difficult to add a top tier talent when one becomes available.

[GunnerBill]

When do you guys reckon Beano last saw his family?

[Warriorspikes51]

Just now, HappyDays said:

 

That only matters for one year deals. If we want to pay someone like Hendrickson or Metcalf, their contract is going to line up with the three contracts we just handed out. So yes extending this caliber of player absolutely makes it more difficult to add a top tier talent when one becomes available.

The actual cap hits can be staggered differently and void years can make almost anything possible

[SCBills]

1 minute ago, HappyDays said:

 

That only matters for one year deals. If we want to pay someone like Hendrickson or Metcalf, their contract is going to line up with the three contracts we just handed out. So yes extending this caliber of player absolutely makes it more difficult to add a top tier talent when one becomes available.

I think the gamble Beane might also be making is that if we hand out a big contract or two this offseason, while outside void years, there may not be much flex… in these extensions, the hope is likely that once the big money hits for Rousseau and Shakir (maybe Bernard) that it’s time for another extension.  Especially Rousseau given how young he is.. he’ll be in his prime when his deal comes up. 

[K-9]

19 minutes ago, FireChans said:

Damar Hamlin led all Bills safeties in tackles, TFLs and INT’s. Do we open negotiations with $20M or $25M AAV? 

I haven’t checked, but was Hamlin also among league leaders as well in D categories like Rousseau was in addition to jist leading the team in some categories?

[Logic]

I could understand being upset or hesitant if the Bills paid Rousseau like a top five edge, but they didn't.

Even without the contract details being fully in, he seems to be about 12th in AAV amongst edges right now, and that's before free agency begins and mega bucks get handed out and he starts getting pushed down the list.

I think that by this time next month, and certainly by this time next year, the deal will look like a bargain.

This front office also likes to extend guys that they believe are ascending, BEFORE they reach their peak and would command considerably more money. See: Brown, Spencer. It doesn't always work out, of course, and there's no guarantee that it will this time. But if it does? Well, again...see: Brown, Spencer.

[stuvian]

Good solid signing. He's played better every year 

[HomeskillitMoorman]

2 hours ago, gonzo1105 said:

I think people haven’t come to grips that salaries like this are the norm. It’s not just Bills fans but every fan. It’s not an overpay. It seems like it because it’s a massive amount of cash but this is actually less than he could have gotten a year from now for sure 

 

It's not really the salary for me...it's the player. The guy for the most part is non-existent when it matters most, and got manhandled by our biggest rival. 

[Logic]

5 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

 

That only matters for one year deals. If we want to pay someone like Hendrickson or Metcalf, their contract is going to line up with the three contracts we just handed out. So yes extending this caliber of player absolutely makes it more difficult to add a top tier talent when one becomes available.

Fair. 

I'm gonna wait to see what they actually do in free agency before I get any level of upset about extending their good, young, homegrown talent.

[appoo]

He’s only a good pass rusher but he’s an elite run defending DE. You put him opposite a legit pass rushing DE that’s a tier better than AJE and that’s a great bookend set

[Einstein's Dog]

51 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

 

Allen had just had an MVP level year when we extended him, and he's a QB. White was elite almost from day one. Those are completely different conversations.

 

The players we just gave big extensions to are good not great players at slot WR, LB, and run stopping EDGE. In a vacuum that does not demonstrate good value. The best positive example you can point to is Spencer Brown who was also a good not great player at a less premium position. Beane was right about him, he ascended further and looks like a steal. I think Beane needs to be right about 2 out of 3 of these recent signings. If we're paying them for what they've done then collectively it is a massive overpay.

 

First off, you said the Bills were 1 for 3 on value of extensions to drafted players, which is what I was responding to.  Josh was drafted and extended as were some others that you missed.   If you were trying for some other more obscure point, doesn't matter with that type of ridiculously small sample size.

 

I disagree with the main point about giving market value extensions to good players a year early.  It is one of the great advantages of drafting decently.  These type of contracts are cap manipulators which allow for future adjustments.  Secure the somewhat newly drafted core and then add the jewel FA piece(s?).  The big move hasn't been made yet.

[FireChans]

14 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Tbf at $20m AAV he doesn't need to be a star DE. If he is an 8 sack a year guy every year of this deal, with maybe one double digit year thrown in and it will be worth it. Just needs to be consistently the best version of what he has been. It is high end edge #2 money. In the Greenard / Huff / Highsmith area. 

 

That isn't to say I love it as an idea - paying a #2 DE when you don't have a #1 and as I have said before I thought his AFCCG performance was arguably his worst game as a Bill. But these are high end #2 numbers which is kinda what I see Groot as. 

Um

 

Greenard is coming off two years of 12 sack seasons.

 

Highsmith had a 14.5 sack season not too long ago and had 6 in 11 games last year. 
 

Bryce Huff is an overpaid pass rush specialist who was a non-factor for his new team.

 

So we are really paying Greg in that “two guys who are considerably more impactful than him and one of the worst overpays of the offseason last year” range.

 

The bottom line is that most of us would rather pay Garrett $35M than Greg $20M.

 

It’s more valuing 4 quarters over a dollar and it’s bad strategy if done too much imo.

[LEBills]

7 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

 

That only matters for one year deals. If we want to pay someone like Hendrickson or Metcalf, their contract is going to line up with the three contracts we just handed out. So yes extending this caliber of player absolutely makes it more difficult to add a top tier talent when one becomes available.

Greg actually has more sacks through his first 4 years (25), than Hendrickson did in his (20). And his new contract accounts for a little over 7% of the salary cap when Hendrickson’s accounted for a little over 8% back in 2021. I think this is actually a pretty good deal, especially since the Bills don’t have to give up any draft capital like they would for Hendrickson or Metcalf.

[Rigotz]

47 minutes ago, BarleyNY said:

 

Maybe you don’t understand who Rousseau is and what his limitations are. He’s a useful player. But what he’s good at isn’t what’s most important and most valued for Edge players. He’s a good complimentary piece, but he’s never going to be a difference maker. That’s okay, but you have to be careful how much cash and cap space gets tied up in players like that. 

 

It’s not a loser mentality to be aware that teams have limited cash and cap space. Yes, this extension will open up cap space this season, but overall it will take up significant space  Also there is a cash budget it will eat up a chunk of. Not acknowledging or understanding that is pretty juvenile. 

We obviously have different opinions on his potential. I haven’t written his pass rush ability off as a 24 year old still learning the position and growing into his body. You have.

 

Which one of us do you think is being logical?

[FireChans]

6 minutes ago, Einstein's Dog said:

First off, you said the Bills were 1 for 3 on value of extensions to drafted players, which is what I was responding to.  Josh was drafted and extended as were some others that you missed.   If you were trying for some other more obscure point, doesn't matter with that type of ridiculously small sample size.

 

I disagree with the main point about giving market value extensions to good players a year early.  It is one of the great advantages of drafting decently.  These type of contracts are cap manipulators which allow for future adjustments.  Secure the somewhat newly drafted core and then add the jewel FA piece(s?).  The big move hasn't been made yet.

You were the one who was convinced we were trading for DK or Aiyuk last offseason, then we opened week 1 with MVS as our big acquisition, right?

[Maine-iac]

I honestly think if we get better, more consistent, pressure/play from the DT's you will see better sack numbers across the board and especially from the DE's.  Groot and AJ can both get to the QB well enough.  Less soft coverage and easy 2 step drop throws and some DT's that make stepping up and escaping the pocket a problem I think Groot could really put up some good all around numbers.

[HappyDays]

10 minutes ago, Logic said:

Fair. 

I'm gonna wait to see what they actually do in free agency before I get any level of upset about extending their good, young, homegrown talent.

 

I always try to take the holistic view. So far this offseason we have extended good not great players at slot WR, LB, and run stopping EDGE. On the face of it that strategy does not scream value. If all of these players continue to be exactly who they have been, collectively it is a big overpay.

 

Of course we need to see what happens on Monday and beyond. I think they should be doing what the Eagles do and effectively kick the can until Allen is 35 and then we can take our medicine for a couple years. If the structure of these latest contracts allows them to do that, I don't have a big problem with them. We still need to add multiple top tier talents. I'm with @Kirby Jackson that the goal should be to add two top 100 players this offseason. If we pull that off my holistic view of the offseason will be that it was a big success.