The Bills surprise by selecting TJ Parker at pick 35 in the 2026 NFL Draft, adding a new edge rusher to ignite the defense and compete for immediate playing time.
It took an extra day than originally planned, but the Buffalo Bills finally made their first pick of the 2026 NFL Draft on Friday night. And with the 35th overall selection this year, the Bills drafted Clemson edge rusher/linebacker TJ Parker
Earlier on Friday, reports surfaced that the Bills had been receiving trade calls to move down from 35. Ultimately, general manager Brandon Beane decided to hang on to the pick and made Parker the newest member of the team.
Parker joins the Bills after spending three seasons with Clemson. Over that time, he had 144 tackles, 41.5 tackles for loss, and 21.5 sacks. His best season came in 2024, tallying 11 sacks, six forced fumbles, 19.5 tackles for loss, and 64 total tackles.
In 2025, his production, along with the entire Clemson team, dropped. He finished the year with just 37 tackles and five sacks.
If you are looking for a connection between Buffalo and Parker, there was no meeting at the scouting combine, nor was there a Top 30 visit, it appears. Where they first met was at the Senior Bowl over the winter.
"I talked to [the Bills] briefly at the Senior Bowl, and they loved my tape," Parker said, adding that he hadn't had talks with Jim Leonhard just yet.
Obviously, Beane and the Bills felt strongly enough in the type of player Parker is that he can be a piece to a championship defense.
Now the team has a new edge that can come in and fight for playing time right away. In fact, it could be expected that he'll be given opportunities to see significant playing time under defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard.
As far as what he brings, Parker has shown an ability to rip the ball away and knows how to use his hands to get off blocks. He'll also contribute to run defense, an area the Bills need to improve on in 2026.
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