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Bills trade down, draft Clemson pass-rusher T.J. Parker

4/26/2026

Summary

Bills Draft Parker

The Buffalo Bills selected Clemson edge rusher T.J. Parker at No. 35 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft.
General manager Brandon Beane traded the No. 26 slot back to No. 35 before the pick.
Parker, a 6-foot-3, 263-pound defender with 21.5 sacks and 41.5 tackles for loss, joins a rotation behind Gregory Rousseau and Bradley Chubb.
The move addresses Buffalo’s need to improve a pass rush that recorded only 36 sacks last season.

Summary

Parker Drafted

T.J. Parker becomes the Bills’ third first-round defensive lineman since Brandon Beane took over in 2017.
He is the sixth defensive lineman taken in Buffalo’s first two rounds, alongside A.J. Epenesa, Boogie Basham and T.J. Sanders.
Injured ends Aaron Hoecht (Achilles) and Jordan Jackson (knee) will shape Parker’s role as Jim Leonhard plans a hybrid 3-4 front that could move him to defensive end.
Parker set Clemson’s record with six forced fumbles, the most since Clelin Ferrell in 2019.

Summary

Bills Trade Down

The Bills traded down three times on Thursday, turning their original first-round slot into mid-round picks and sending the No. 182 selection to Denver.
After the moves, Buffalo had nine picks, five in the top 126, and used No. 62 to select cornerback Davison Igbinosun after trading up four spots.
With six selections left, the Bills will open the fourth round at No. 101 and continue targeting defensive tackle, safety, and receiver depth.

Summary

Parker Praised

Coaches Dabo Swinney and Chris Rumph praised Parker as a “really, really good pass rusher” who can also stop the run and lead the locker room.
Parker graduated in three years while performing at an elite football level.
Rivals ranked Parker 37th nationally among high-school players and fourth among Alabama edge prospects.
Clemson’s draft streak has lasted 24 years, with first-round selections in 11 of the last 14 drafts.

History

Historical Context

Since drafting Hall of Famer Bruce Smith first overall in 1985—who finished with an NFL-record 200 sacks—Buffalo has often used the draft to boost its pass rush, signing free-agent Bryce Paup in 1995 and trading for edge rusher Mario Williams in 2012. In 2026 the Bills traded down, picking T.J. Parker at No. 35 to improve a pass-rush that managed 36 sacks, extending the team’s long-standing draft-driven defensive strategy.

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Bills Draft Parker

The Buffalo Bills selected Clemson edge rusher T.J. Parker at No. 35 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft.
General manager Brandon Beane traded the No. 26 slot back to No. 35 before the pick.
Parker, a 6-foot-3, 263-pound defender with 21.5 sacks and 41.5 tackles for loss, joins a rotation behind Gregory Rousseau and Bradley Chubb.
The move addresses Buffalo’s need to improve a pass rush that recorded only 36 sacks last season.

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