The Buffalo Bills extended defensive end with a contract that may have surprised many fans. However, he is a rising talent and will only be 25 at the start of the season.
He signed a deal worth $20 million per year, while Myles Garrett later reset the market at $40 million annually—a significant gap in value.
According to Spotrac, the full contract structure includes a signing bonus, option bonus, and a void year to spread out the cap hit. Based on the details, Rousseau appears to be locked into the roster through at least 2027.
How much guaranteed money did Greg Rousseau receive from the Bills?
Greg Rousseau’s contract includes a $17.5 million signing bonus and guarantees him $49 million at signing, with an extra $5 million guaranteed in case of injury.
The guaranteed money is spread across multiple years: His 2025 salary of $2.377 million
A $14 million option bonus in 2026
His 2026 base salary of $4.92 million
The majority of his 2027 salary ($10.2 million of $16.4 million)
Additionally, the $5 million injury guarantee for his 2027 salary will become fully guaranteed at the start of the 2025 league year.
How are the Bills managing the cap with the Greg Rousseau extension?
The Bills structured Rousseau’s contract to guarantee money into the third year, allowing him to accept a smaller signing bonus upfront. To manage the cap, Buffalo included a guaranteed roster bonus in year two and added a void year to spread out a significant portion of his compensation. As a result, his 2025 cap hit decreases from $13.3 million to $5.88 million.
In 2026, his cap hit remains manageable at $11.8 million before surging to over $20 million in 2027 and beyond.
What incentives are in Greg Rousseau’s contract with the Bills?
The Bills included their usual per-game active roster bonuses in Rousseau’s contract, awarding him $20,000 per game, up to $340,000 per season. Additionally, he has a $250,000 workout bonus in every season beyond 2025.
The deal also features a sack incentive worth $1 million per season, though the required sack total remains unknown. It’s likely set higher than his 2024 total to classify it as a Not Likely To Be Earned incentive.
Full cap breakdown and contract numbers for the Greg Rousseau extension with the Buffalo Bills
Here’s a clearer breakdown of Greg Rousseau’s contract details by year:
2025
- Signing Bonus: $3.5 million
- Base Salary: $2.377 million (fully guaranteed)
- Cap Hit: $5.877 million
- Yearly Cash: $19.877 million
2026
- Signing Bonus: $3.5 million
- Option Bonus: $2.8 million
- Workout Bonus: $250,000
- Per-Game Active Bonus: $20,000 per game (up to $340,000)
- Base Salary: $4.92 million (fully guaranteed)
- Cap Hit: $11.81 million
- Yearly Cash: $19.510 million
2027
- Signing Bonus: $3.5 million
- Option Bonus: $2.8 million
- Workout Bonus: $250,000
- Per-Game Active Bonus: $20,000 per game (up to $340,000)
- Base Salary: $16.41 million ($10.2M fully guaranteed + $5M injury guaranteed)
- Cap Hit: $23.3 million
- Yearly Cash: $17 million
2028
- Signing Bonus: $3.5 million
- Option Bonus: $2.8 million
- Workout Bonus: $250,000
- Per-Game Active Bonus: $20,000 per game (up to $340,000)
- Base Salary: $17.41 million
- Cap Hit: $24.3 million
- Dead Cap if Cut: $15.4 million
- Cap Savings if Cut: $8.9 million
- Yearly Cash: $18 million
2029
- Signing Bonus: $3.5 million
- Option Bonus: $2.8 million
- Roster Bonus: $3 million
- Workout Bonus: $250,000
- Per-Game Active Bonus: $20,000 per game (up to $340,000)
- Base Salary: $14.41 million
- Cap Hit: $25.3 million
- Dead Cap if Cut: $9.1 million
- Cap Savings if Cut: $16.2 million
- Yearly Cash: $19 million
2030 (Void Year)
- Option Bonus: $2.8 million
- Cap Hit if Not on Roster: $2.8 million
This structure allows the Bills to keep Rousseau’s early cap hits low while pushing significant costs into later years, with an eventual void year in 2030.