ORCHARD PARK - Once he was finished trading down three times to get out of the first round of the NFL Draft, Buffalo Bills president/general manager Brandon Beane had a perfect opportunity to address a position that is perceived by many to be in need of fortification.
However, with two of the highest-rated run-stuffing defensive tackles sitting there when he finally decided to pick a player with the third selection in the second round, No. 35 overall, he took a pass on Ohio State’s Kayden McDonald and Georgia’s Christen Miller.
Edge rusher TJ Parker was the choice, and in theory that should work out just fine as Parker was a consensus late first-rounder among the analysts, a player with a well-developed and versatile skill set. Pass rush has been a constant source of angst for the Bills and Parker brings 21.5 sacks and 41.5 tackles for loss to Buffalo across three seasons at Clemson.
I’m not going to debate that pick, but McDonald went one spot later to the Texans and Miller was scooped up at No. 42 by the Saints, and for a Buffalo defense that has often struggled to stop the run, you wonder if the prudent move would have been drafting one of those 320-plus pound tackles to plug into the A gap.
Here’s a look at the Bills’ defensive line as the team gets ready to start OTAs:
Their roster building to this point would suggest maybe not. Jim Leonhard spent his previous two seasons on the Broncos’ defensive staff and last year, Denver coordinator Vance Joseph used three defensive linemen on just 38% of snaps, and almost never was the A gap player in the middle in the traditional nose tackle spot head up on the center.
Typically, players like Zach Allen, DJ Jones, Malcolm Roach and Eyioma Uwazurike were lined up either between the center-guard in a three-technique, or between the guard and tackle in a 4i technique. If Leonhard lines it up in similar fashion, maybe 6-foot-7, 330-pound Deone Walker will work out fine in the middle.
Buffalo ranked 28th against the run in 2025 with an average yield of 136.2 yards per game, but more telling was ranking 30th in yards per rush (5.1), 31st in runs of 10 yards or more (65), and dead last in rushing yards per play allowed after first contact (3.93).
Last year, with clear cut better players up front, the Broncos ranked second in rush yards allowed (91.1), third in yards per rush (3.9), second in 10-yard-plus runs (30), and 15th in yards allowed after contact (3.01).
Beane has continually said he thinks Walker can be a nose tackle type and isn’t willing to concede that his height could be problematic in terms of gaining leverage because you would think offensive linemen will be able to get under Walker’s pads and drive him out of the hole.
After the draft, Beane also mentioned DeWayne Carter, returning from a torn Achilles, has added some bulk during his time away and he could be an option in the nose role. But relying on Carter feels like a reach, while the other candidates on the roster are Phidarian Mathis and Zion Logue, and the Bills shouldn’t be living in a world where those two players are getting regular rotational snaps.
The Bills took three linemen in the first four rounds in 2025 - TJ Sanders in the second, Landon Jackson in the third, and Walker in the fourth. Walker was by far the best of the bunch and he and Ed Oliver will be obvious starters and key contributors this year.
But Sanders and Jackson were drafted to play tackle and edge, respectively, in a four-man front and they’re going to have to find their niche in the three-man front.
Sanders showed some versatility last year when he played a bit on the edge when the Bills were in an injury crunch, but he really didn’t distinguish himself in any way. Jackson’s rookie year was a complete bust as he looked lost in training camp, was a healthy scratch early in the season, then blew out his knee and wound up appearing in just two games.
“Landon Jackson, as I think I stated here before, will probably be more of that 4i role for us,” Beane said, taking him out of the edge/outside linebacker mix. “Our weight program helped him. Credit to (Jackson and Carter) and the strength staff, those two guys have really added some good bulk and strength for the positions that we’re going to ask them to play in this defense.”
On Sanders, coach Joe Brady said, “TJ’s doing everything the right way right now. He was a second-round draft pick last year, there's a clear vision for how to utilize him, understanding what he does well. Jim and the defensive coaches are excited for him. And just like everybody, you're going to improve your second year and have an idea of understanding what it takes to be a pro and all of that.”
Round 2, Pick No. 35, T.J. Parker, DE, Clemson: The Buffalo Bills made their first pick after trading out of Round 1, selecting Clemson defensive end T.J. Parker at No. 35 overall.
T.J. Parker mParker is a powerful edge rusher known for his length and ability to convert speed to power, consistently driving offensive tackles back into the pocket. He recorded 41.5 tackles for loss in 39 career games and had a breakout 2024 season with 11 sacks and six forced fumbles.
Round 2, No. 62 overall, Davison Igbinosun, CB, Ohio State: Igbinosun is a long, physical cornerback with press-coverage traits and 53 college starts. He started at Ole Miss as a freshman before transferring to Ohio State, where he became a three-year starter, winning a national championship in the 2024 season.
His physicality is his strength and his weakness. Davison Igbinosun can reroute receivers, support the run and compete at the catch point, but he drew penalty concerns in college and will need to clean up his technique.