Going into the 2026 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills have a lot of things to consider. The Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks have laid out the blueprint, but it is far from simple to copy that. When you have several pressing offseason needs as the Bills do, there is only so much you can do to address them all.
With salary cap complications at hand, the Bills will be looking to address as many areas of concern as possible in the draft. One position they could look to cross off their list is edge rusher and Clemson’s T.J. Parker could be the ideal fit.
Clemson EDGE T.J. Parker 2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 265 lbs
Expected 40-Yard Dash: 4.60-4.65
Recruiting: 4-star recruit in the class of 2023, No. 43 nationally, No. 6 defensive lineman overall
College Production: 126 total tackles, 41.5 tackles for loss, 21.5 sacks, 6 forced fumbles in 39 career games
Positives
- Violent hands that put offensive linemen on their heels.
- Great at separating the ball carrier from the ball with six forced fumbles in 2024.
- Long arms allow him to get into offensive linemen quickly, collapsing the pocket onto quarterbacks.
- Good at setting the edge thanks to excellent control, length, and upper-body strength, not to mention the innate ability to shed blockers.
- Has shown the ability to drop into coverage, even staying with tight ends and backs without getting lost.
- Plays with tenacity and intensity that is hard to create, bringing the violence when challenged.
Parker has excellent size, burst, and a mean streak that can be a problem for offensive linemen. He excels at setting the edge and making ball carriers pay on a regular basis. Ability to drop into coverage could make him a natural fit for the Bills’ 3-4 defense under new coordinator Jim Leonhard.
Negatives
- Doesn’t have elite burst off the edge, sometimes relying heavily on power.
- When plays go to the opposite side, he tends to disappear because of his limited range away from his gap.
- A little one-dimensional in his pass rush skill set; tackles that do well against power could give him problems.
- Not a great open field tackler, tending to swipe instead of wrapping up.
The only thing that can’t really be worked on is his burst, and that isn’t necessarily a “negative” as much as it is what separates him from the elite edge rushers in the NFL. If he can become more involved in plays away from his gaps and add a few more pass-rush moves to his repertoire, he could become an issue for opposing offensive linemen.
T.J. Parker NFL Player Comparison: Rashan Gary
Parker has been compared to Gary and Bradley Chubb largely because he has great length, the ability to set the edge, and elite power when rushing the passer. His high motor is evident, and he has a proven track record of being productive at the college level with 21.5 career sacks.
Parker’s Fit with the Buffalo Bills
Though he may be more ideally suited for a 4-3 front, he has the size, athleticism, and versatility to line up as an OLB in Leonhard’s 3-4 scheme. If anything, his tenacity makes him a matchup problem that can be moved around the line of scrimmage.
Parker will need to hone his coverage abilities and develop a bit more versatility as a pass rusher if he is going to become the kind of disruptor that excels at the next level.
T.J. Parker NFL Draft Grade: Mid-Late Round 1
Parker is the kind of prospect ready-made for an NFL defense right now. It would not be surprising to see him off the board in the middle of the first round. Depending on the needs of other teams, he could slide to the Bills at No. 26 and wind up being one of the steals of the draft based on their needs.