The Bills are expecting a lot out of their rookie class, and that includes T.J. Sanders, a second-round pick from South Carolina. Buffalo made a big move up into Round 2 to acquire Sanders, and it made sense considering he is the type of defensive tackle they’ve been missing. Sanders can play up and down the defensive line, and he can be a violent player in the run game. He is precisely the type of player Buffalo has been missing on their defensive line over the last few years.
There is no doubt that Sanders has a lot of talent and should be a contributor right away for the Bills, but he needs to start showing more in camp. Sanders has not had a poor camp by any stretch. However, his inconsistencies, especially as a pass rusher, have limited his effectiveness so far.
In a recent article by Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic, he wrote about the 2025 rookie class for the Bills and the expectations for each player going into the season. The Bills are pleased overall with the play of Sanders, but they are still waiting on him to turn the corner and prove that he can contribute during the upcoming season. Here is a snippet of what Buscaglia had to say about the former South Carolina star from camp:
"The trouble for Sanders is the same thing you run into with most rookies — waiting for the consistency to match the flashes."Joe Buscaglia, The Athletic
Buscaglia mentioned in the article that Sanders has flashed as a pass rusher during drills, but those plays haven’t happened frequently enough. That’s not a massive surprise as the Bills do have one of the league’s best offensive lines, and it generally takes defensive linemen a while to get up to the speed and physicality of the NFL.
However, the Bills need Sanders to be an impact player right away, even if only as a rotational player. With multiple players serving suspensions and an overall lack of depth at defensive tackle, it’s vital that Sanders is ready to play from the start. He doesn’t need to be a starter or even a 30-35 snap a game player, but he needs to be ready for a rotational role to help give Ed Oliver a rest.
Keep an eye on Sanders throughout the rest of camp and the preseason as his development will be key for the overall success of the defensive line this season. He’s right where he needs to be after two weeks of camp, but the Bills are crossing their fingers that he can continue his positive momentum and become a more consistent player over the next month.