The Buffalo Bills added another key defensive piece in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft. With the No. 35 overall pick, they selected Clemson Tigers standout pass rusher T.J. Parker.
Parker, who had been a borderline first-round pick leading up to the draft, has the talent and potential to be an instant role player for the Bills. After signing Bradley Chubb during NFL free agency, Buffalo has to be feeling good about the additions.
Last season, getting after the quarterback was an issue for the Bills. Chubb and Parker should be able to fix that problem in 2026.
With that being said, Parker does have a couple of areas that need to be improved. He was given strong advice in a breakdown of his game.
T.J. Parker Hit With Strong Advice Before Beginning Bills’ Career
Pro Football Focus took a look at what Parker brings to the field. While they believe that he will be a rotational player at least, they think that he must improve two things to be a long-term starter.
“Parker is a well-rounded edge defender who does many things at a solid level but lacks a true difference-making trait,” PFF wrote. “He projects as a rotational player with starting potential if he develops more strength or explosiveness.”
What kind of player does Pro Football Focus think Parker could become? They also shared a potential NFL comparison for the Clemson standout.
PFF believes that Parker compares favorably to longtime NFL pass rusher Whitney Mercilus.
Lance Zierlein Provides Outlook for T.J. Parker’s in the NFL
NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein also provided his thoughts about what to expect from the Bills’ new rookie.
“Powerful edge defender with NFL length whose 2025 tape might be closer to his pro projection than his gaudy 2024 numbers. Parker’s hand work is above average in both phases. He strikes early to set very firm edges, then sheds quickly to finish tackles,” Zierlein wrote.
“Average short-area burst limits his ability to pursue the run in space and threaten tackles in a race to the top of the rush. He can long-arm tackles into the pocket when he catches them right, but he fails to find quick solutions when that approach stalls. His rush production will be muted until he expands his approach but improvement is likely. Parker profiles as an average to above-average starter.”
Parker is coming off of a 2025 season with the Tigers where he racked up 37 total tackles, five sacks, three fumble recoveries, and a defended pass. Throughout his three seasons at Clemson in 39 games, Parker totaled 126 tackles, 21.5 sacks, 41.5 tackles for loss, four defended passes, six fumble recoveries, and six forced fumbles.
Hopefully, the young pass rusher can become a key piece of the Buffalo defense moving forward. He has the talent to be special, but still has work to do as well.
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