ORCHARD PARK — The Buffalo Bills needed more juice on the edge. They think Clemson's T.J. Parker is going to bring it.
After trading back three times in the first round of the NFL Draft, the Bills made their first selection, selecting the 6-foot-4, 263-pound Parker with the third choice of the second round (35th overall).
Parker had plenty of production in three seasons at Clemson. He tallied 41 ½ tackles for a loss and 21 ½ sacks in 39 games, but his numbers dropped from 19 ½ TFLs and 11 sacks in 2024 to 9 ½ TFLs and five sacks last season as he saw an increase in double-teams and was not as consistent.
"I think I had a good year," Parker said. "I feel like I put a lot of stuff on tape. I improved from my sophomore to my junior year. Now, I didn't have the same amount of sack production, but at the same time, I put great things on tape."
The Phoenix native will need some time to develop as a pass-rusher, but he's only 21 and has all the tools to become one.
Parker ran a 4.68-second 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine, but he had a 1.61-second 10-yard split, which was 0.01 faster than New York Jets No. 2 overall pick David Bailey. Parker's 10-foot broad jump was an inch better than Keldric Faulk, who the Tennessee Titans took after acquiring the 31st overall pick from the Bills Thursday.
"It wasn't like we said, 'Hey, we're going for just speed or we're not going for speed,'" Bills general manager Brandon Beane said. "I wouldn't say T.J. is slow. T.J.'s a bigger man than (Oklahoma's) R Mason (Thomas) or something like that. Two different players, both very good players. … and it doesn't mean they're far apart or not. (Parker) has a three-down skill set."
In the meantime, Parker should make an immediate impact on early downs. Parker is sturdy and can disengage from blockers to turn running backs inside before they hit the edge. The Bills allowed 1,271 yards rushing — 55% of their total allowed — on runs outside the tackles or quarterback scrambles, giving up 5.3 yards per carry.
The Bills also only had one player hit double-digit sacks in a season ( Leonard Floyd in 2023) under former coach Sean McDermott, while ranking in the top-10 in sacks just once in nine seasons. And pressure percentage dwindled from 42.8% in playoff wins to 25.8% in loss, below the league average of 36.8%.
"I think he's got speed, but I think he's got power," Bills general manager Brandon Beane said. "He can use his arm. I think he's got a multitude of moves; I think there's more in there; I think we can continue to work on that. But if you just look at his athletic ability and you see it on tape."
Parker will have to adjust from playing in a three-point stance to playing with his hand off the ground as an outside linebacker in certain situations as he shifts from Clemson's 4-3 to Buffalo's new 3-4.
Just 21, Parker has plenty of time to develop. He should factor into the rotation as a rookie, but he's likely to be the No. 3 outside linebacker or edge rusher behind Greg Rousseau and Bradley Chubb .
"I'm very versatile," Parker said. "I can drop into coverage, I can rush the pass or I can stop the run. So that just makes me versatile across the board. And for me, I think that's very valuable. I'll be going into the system, and whatever they have for outside linebacker/edge-type role, I'll be able to do it. And it's on tape."
