The Buffalo Bills and general manager Brandon Beane put together a strong class in the 2026 NFL Draft.
After trading out of the first round, the Bills quickly added more pass rushing help in the form of Clemson standout T.J. Parker in the second round. That move will pair nicely with Bradley Chubb, who was signed in NFL free agency.
Buffalo proceeded to take Ohio State cornerback Davison Igbinosun, Boston College tackle Jude Bowry, UConn wideout Skyler Bell, TCU linebacker Kaleb Elarms-Orr, South Carolina safety Jalen Kilgore, Penn State defensive tackle Zane Durant, Missouri cornerback Toriano Pride Jr., Florida punter Tommy Doman, and Texas A&M guard Ar’maj Reed-Adams after taking Parker.
Parker will have a chance to carve out an immediate role in the NFL. He has a lot of quality experience from his days with the Tigers in college.
Also, there is a chance that the addition of Parker could cost another Bills defender his job.
Buffalo Bills Defender Could Be Cut Candidate Following NFL Draft
Alex Brasky of Sports Illustrated believes that 2025 third-round pick Landon Jackson could be in jeopardy with Parker now on the roster. He isn’t sold that Parker will be a star long-term, but he thinks Jackson is in trouble.
“So, while he may not be the ultimate answer at the edge rusher position, Parker will be given every opportunity to overtake Jackson and make him an afterthought, even more so than he already is, for the Bills’ defense,” Brasky wrote.
In addition to that take, Brasky also offered more thoughts on Jackson.
“He played just 16% of the Bills’ defensive snaps in 2025 and didn’t offer much value on special teams either, where he was on the field for just 18% of Buffalo’s defensive snaps,” he wrote. “While competing on the defensive side of the ball, he didn’t total a single tackle or sack, remaining off the stat sheet.”
Jackson didn’t do anything last season to make Buffalo think that he could be a quality starter. Now, he might find himself on the outside looking in when it comes to a roster spot.
Buffalo’s Pass Rush Should Be Much-Improved in 2026
Parker is coming off of a 2025 season with Clemson that saw him rack up 37 tackles, five sacks, three fumble recoveries, and a defended pass in 39 games. Across his entire 39-game college career, Parker totaled 126 tackles, 21.5 sacks, six fumble recoveries, six forced fumbles, and four defended passes.
Along with Parker, the Bills are also excited about the addition of Chubb.
The 29-year-old pass rusher is coming off of a 2025 season with the Miami Dolphins where he recorded 47 tackles, 8.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery. In 2024, he had 73 tackles, 11 sacks, six forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and two defended passes.
After struggling to put consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks last season, Buffalo seems to be in much better shape following free agency and the NFL Draft.
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