There are no pads, but it’s never too early to make a statement for the Buffalo Bills’ second-round draft choice. According to reports, one rookie defensive tackle is already standing out during OTAs, showing why he deserves the spotlight as the Bills’ top rookie to watch in minicamp.
Second-Round DT Fills Need For Bills
After finishing as a top-seven defense in the last three seasons, the Buffalo Bills finished 18th in our PFSN Defense+ metric during the regular season. That’s not the biggest surprise, given that this was largely billed as a rebuilding season for this unit.
The Bills weren’t bad in the trenches, but the interior of the defensive line was inconsistent. The defense ranked third in run defense success rate (58.4%) but allowed 4.5 yards per carry (19th in the NFL).
General manager Brandon Beane and the front office entered the offseason needing to bolster depth on the defensive line. They signed veteran Larry Ogunjobi in free agency, but knew they needed to continue attacking the position through the draft. In the second round, the Bills selected defensive tackle T.J. Sanders and Deone Walker in the fourth.
Both players add valuable depth to a group that was lacking. Sanders, in particular, has high upside and could make an immediate impact as a rookie.
T.J. Sanders Fit In Buffalo
The Bills selected Sanders out of South Carolina, and it didn’t take long for him to garner love in Western New York.
Sanders addressed the media right after rookie mini-camp last month, opening up on everything from navigating the NFL draft process and comparing an NFL playbook to those in college, to applying classroom knowledge to the field, and, of course, why he chose to wear number 98. Watch the full interview below.
One month later, Sanders’s turn at OTAs was no surprise to anyone who watched him in South Carolina. In 2023, Sanders played in 12 games with seven starts, recording 43 tackles with 9.5 TFLs, 4.5 sacks, and 4 PBUs. He was also voted the Team’s Defensive Player of the Spring.
Last year, Sanders played in all 13 games with nine starts, adding 50 tackles, 7 TFLs, four sacks, and another PBU. He has a sturdy profile for interior work at around 6’4”, 297 pounds, with over 33” arms,
The bottom line is that Sanders is explosive off the ball and uses violent hands to overwhelm his opponents. The rookie DT has the explosiveness, lateral range, and strength to win 1-on-1 as a pass rusher, which will undoubtedly help improve on the team’s 32.5% pressure rate (23rd) in 2024.