The Buffalo Bills opted for edge rusher TJ Parker instead of highly-rated defensive tackles in the NFL Draft. This decision raises questions about their strategy for strengthening the defensive line.
Key points
Buffalo Bills selected edge rusher TJ Parker in the NFL Draft.
Two top-rated defensive tackles were available when the Bills picked.
Parker had 21.5 sacks and 41.5 tackles for loss in college.
The Bills' defensive line has struggled against the run.
Brandon Beane traded down three times before making the pick.
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 Stateâs Kayden McDonald and Georgiaâs 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.
Iâm 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.
Hereâs a look at the Billsâ defensive line as the team gets ready to start OTAs:
Do the Bills need a nose tackle?
Brandon Beane believes Deone Walker can handle the nose tackle position in the Bills' new 3-4 scheme.
Brandon Beane believes Deone Walker can handle the nose tackle position in the Bills' new 3-4 scheme.
Their roster building to this point would suggest maybe not. Jim Leonhard spent his previous two seasons on the â defensive staff and last year, 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.
Q&A
Why did the Buffalo Bills choose TJ Parker over defensive tackles in the draft?
The Bills selected edge rusher TJ Parker, believing his versatile skill set and pass-rushing ability would better address their ongoing struggles in that area.
Who were the defensive tackles the Bills passed on during the draft?
The Bills passed on Ohio State's Kayden McDonald and Georgia's Christen Miller, both of whom were available when they made their pick.
What are TJ Parker's stats from his college career?
TJ Parker recorded 21.5 sacks and 41.5 tackles for loss over three seasons at Clemson.
How has the Bills' defensive line performed in recent seasons?
The Bills' defensive line has struggled to stop the run, prompting concerns about their decision-making in the draft.
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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 isnât 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 Walkerâs 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 shouldnât be living in a world where those two players are getting regular rotational snaps.
Where do the 2025 draft picks play?
TJ Sanders, the Bills' second-round pick in 2025, needs to find his niche in Buffalo's new defense.
TJ Sanders, the Bills' second-round pick in 2025, needs to find his niche in Buffalo's new defense.
But Sanders and Jackson were drafted to play tackle and edge, respectively, in a four-man front and theyâre 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 didnât distinguish himself in any way. Jacksonâs 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.
âLandon Jackson, as I think I stated here before, will probably be more of that 4i role for us,â Beane said, taking him out of the edge/outside linebacker mix. âOur 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 weâre going to ask them to play in this defense.â
On Sanders, coach Joe Brady said, âTJâs 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.â
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.
Round 4, No. 102 overall, Jude Bowry, OT, Boston College: The 6-foot-5, 315-pounder was a two-year starter with 23 career starts dating back to 2022 so he brings experience to the table, but the Bills might have taken him to try him at guard.
Jude Bowry played every one of his snaps on the outside according to Pro Football Focus, 1,285 at left tackle and 97 at right tackle, but some analysts think his best fit in the NFL would be on the inside.
Round 4, No. 125 overall, Skyler Bell, WR, UConn: Josh Allen has a new weapon to work with in the passing game as the Buffalo Bills selected UConn wide receiver Skyler Bell with the first of their back-to-back picks in the fourth round of the NFL Draft.
Skyler Bell Bell is coming off a spectacular 2025 season for the Huskies when he caught 101 passes for 1,278 yards and 13 touchdowns, doing so from the boundary as well as coming inside to the slot.
Round 4, No. 126 overall, Kaleb Elarms-Orr, LB, TCU: There was no question that the Buffalo Bills had to address a crying need at inside linebacker in the NFL Draft, and they did so with the second of their back-to-back picks in the fourth round, taking Kaleb Elarms-Orr of TCU.
Born in Berkeley, California, Elarms-Orr didnât start playing football until he entered high school and wasnât a full-time linebacker until 2023, his third season playing in his backyard at Cal. He led the team with 92 tackles and then transferred to TCU where he was a reserve in 2024 and then a starter in 2025 when he took a huge leap with 130 tackles, 11 for lost yardage including four sacks.
Round 5, No. 167 overall, Jalon Kilgore, S, South Carolina: The Bills selected South Carolina safety Jalon Kilgore at No. 167. Kilgore is a 6-foot-1, 218-pounder who was a three-year starter at South Carolina, playing 36 games and intercepting eight passes.
Jalon Kilgore He ran a 4.4 in the 40 at the combine, impressive speed for a man his size, and he had a vertical leap of 37 inches which helped him defend 29 passes in his career and make 178 tackles, ball production that certainly caught Buffaloâs eye.
Zane Durant is an undersized at 6-foot-1, 290 pounds â nearly identical to Buffalo defensive tackle Ed Oliver â but he's explosive and can win with quickness, leverage and effort. He ran the fastest 40-yard dash (4.75 seconds) among defensive tackles at the NFL Combine. He's best suited as a penetrating 3-technique.
Toriano Pride Jr. He recorded 82 tackles, one sack, five interceptions, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries in 52 career games. He returned an interception for a touchdown in each of the last two seasons.
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.
3 / 20
Meet the Billsâ 2026 draft class, pick by pick
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.
4 / 20
Meet the Billsâ 2026 draft class, pick by pick
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.
5 / 20
Meet the Billsâ 2026 draft class, pick by pick
Round 4, No. 102 overall, Jude Bowry, OT, Boston College: The 6-foot-5, 315-pounder was a two-year starter with 23 career starts dating back to 2022 so he brings experience to the table, but the Bills might have taken him to try him at guard.
6 / 20
Meet the Billsâ 2026 draft class, pick by pick
Jude Bowry played every one of his snaps on the outside according to Pro Football Focus, 1,285 at left tackle and 97 at right tackle, but some analysts think his best fit in the NFL would be on the inside.
7 / 20
Meet the Billsâ 2026 draft class, pick by pick
Round 4, No. 125 overall, Skyler Bell, WR, UConn: Josh Allen has a new weapon to work with in the passing game as the Buffalo Bills selected UConn wide receiver Skyler Bell with the first of their back-to-back picks in the fourth round of the NFL Draft.
8 / 20
Meet the Billsâ 2026 draft class, pick by pick
Skyler Bell Bell is coming off a spectacular 2025 season for the Huskies when he caught 101 passes for 1,278 yards and 13 touchdowns, doing so from the boundary as well as coming inside to the slot.
9 / 20
Meet the Billsâ 2026 draft class, pick by pick
Round 4, No. 126 overall, Kaleb Elarms-Orr, LB, TCU: There was no question that the Buffalo Bills had to address a crying need at inside linebacker in the NFL Draft, and they did so with the second of their back-to-back picks in the fourth round, taking Kaleb Elarms-Orr of TCU.
10 / 20
Meet the Billsâ 2026 draft class, pick by pick
Born in Berkeley, California, Elarms-Orr didnât start playing football until he entered high school and wasnât a full-time linebacker until 2023, his third season playing in his backyard at Cal. He led the team with 92 tackles and then transferred to TCU where he was a reserve in 2024 and then a starter in 2025 when he took a huge leap with 130 tackles, 11 for lost yardage including four sacks.
11 / 20
Meet the Billsâ 2026 draft class, pick by pick
Round 5, No. 167 overall, Jalon Kilgore, S, South Carolina: The Bills selected South Carolina safety Jalon Kilgore at No. 167. Kilgore is a 6-foot-1, 218-pounder who was a three-year starter at South Carolina, playing 36 games and intercepting eight passes.
12 / 20
Meet the Billsâ 2026 draft class, pick by pick
Jalon Kilgore He ran a 4.4 in the 40 at the combine, impressive speed for a man his size, and he had a vertical leap of 37 inches which helped him defend 29 passes in his career and make 178 tackles, ball production that certainly caught Buffaloâs eye.
Zane Durant is an undersized at 6-foot-1, 290 pounds â nearly identical to Buffalo defensive tackle Ed Oliver â but he's explosive and can win with quickness, leverage and effort. He ran the fastest 40-yard dash (4.75 seconds) among defensive tackles at the NFL Combine. He's best suited as a penetrating 3-technique.
Toriano Pride Jr. He recorded 82 tackles, one sack, five interceptions, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries in 52 career games. He returned an interception for a touchdown in each of the last two seasons.
Ar'Maj Reed-Adams Reed-Adams is 6-foot-6, 314 pounds. He played six years of college football with 57 games and 39 starts.
Again, Beane could have added a bigger-bodied tackle but he chose to go with the 290-pound Durant who feels repetitive with Oliver, Sanders and Jackson.
Durant was a four-year player and three-year starter for Penn State with 53 games and 40 starts in the competitive Big Ten, mostly at 3-tech, so that experience is something you notice. And he made up for his lack of size by playing, as he said after the Bills picked him, âViolent, fast, physical and relentless.â
Durant has short arms at 31 â inches and he overcame that in college in part because of his quickness and big, strong hands, but when linemen got their hands on him they could move him out of the way, especially short yardage and goal-line situations. Thatâs something to watch as he comes into the NFL.
âWhen you look at our defensive line right now, there has been a lot of investment in draft capital in the last couple of years,â Brady said. âThen you get here this year, we were able to get Zane. There is a lot of youth in there, and you can never have enough D-linemen. You look at the waves that teams are going against, speaking from a guy calling plays, itâs always good when you see the second line coming in. I think the best teams you go against, there is not a huge dropoff when the second line is coming in. So I think thatâs important that weâre always continuing to have the competition, but also making sure that weâre deep in those rooms.â
Should the Bills add a veteran free agent?
Counting just the players who stand the best chance of making the team, only Walker (330) and Carter (305) top 300 pounds. When you factor in what it will cost to sign the draft class, Beane doesnât have much wiggle room with the cap unless he does some surgery on existing contracts. But the Bills are undersized up front and it would behoove him to add a wide body to the mix.
The name that jumps out is 31-year-old DJ Reader, a 330-pounder who has spent his 10-year career clogging the middle for the Texans, Bengals and Lions. Greg Gaines, a 28-year-old 312-pounder who spent four years with the Rams and the last three with the Buccaneers is another option and would cost less than Reader.
For now the Bills are likely going to let things play out, but if they arenât comfortable when final cuts are made in early September, there could be a sizeable tackle who unexpectedly hits the open market that would be worth bringing in.
Sal Maiorana has covered the Buffalo Bills for more than four decades including 37 years as the full-time beat writer/columnist for the D&C. He has written numerous books about the history of the team, and he is also co-host of the BLEAV in Bills podcast/YouTube show. He can be reached at maiorana@gannett.com, and you can follow him on X @salmaiorana and on Bluesky @salmaiorana.bsky.social.
