When the Buffalo Bills were getting prepared for the 2026 NFL Draft, the biggest expectation that fans had is that their first pick was going to be defense. It was clear that they were looking to add to this new unit that is under the control of Jim Leonhard, and it was just a matter of who the Bills were going to draft (or when they were going to draft).
Rather than staying put at No. 26 in the first round, the Bills opted to trade back three times and eventually traded out of the first round. They didn’t make their first pick until No. 35, in which they selected Clemson EDGE/OLB T.J. Parker.
The addition of Parker gives the Bills more depth on the outside on the defense, and it also gives the Bills promise for what Parker can grow into as his career progresses. The good news for the Bills is that they don’t need Parker to become an immediate starter since they already have Greg Rousseau and Bradley Chubb.
However, there is an expectation that fans have with Parker and what he can show in his rookie year. With the Bills in a win-now mode, Parker has to adapt to the pro game quickly. The good news is that he has quality veterans to learn from and Parker recently spoke about one of them.
T.J. Parker gives shoutout to Bradley Chubb heading into training camp
Parker recently spoke with former Bills center Eric Wood on Wood’s podcast; Centered on Buffalo, and he talked about the impact that Bradley Chubb has had on him since arriving to Buffalo. Wood had asked Parker if there had been any vets that have taken Parker "underneath their wing", in which Parker shouted out Chubb, but also gave a little bit of love to Greg Rousseau as well.
Who has helped TJ Parker the most since arriving in Buffalo? #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/csIa7vxSek
— Centered on Buffalo (@thebuffalopod) June 26, 2026
The bond that Parker and Chubb have had up to this point is encouraging for Bills fans. For what seems like forever now, the Bills have had inconsistency with their pass-rush. With the change in defensive scheme to a 3-4, Jim Leonhard is going to have to work his magic with what he wants from his edge rushers.
Even though Chubb certainly has had his struggles with injuries (including missing the 2024 season), Chubb has 19.5 sacks between his 2023 and 2025 season with the Dolphins. His presence gives Buffalo the veteran edge rusher, plus a great mentor for Parker as he develops over time.
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