The biggest X-factor on the Bills 2026 defense is hardly discussed by fans or media despite the fact he was an early-round pick a year ago.
It’s T.J. Sanders, and I’m writing this piece to raise awareness of his importance to and potential within Buffalo’s defense under Jim Leonhard.
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Think about it — in back-to-back years the Bills made early second-round picks in the NFL Draft.
People can’t help themselves with Keon Coleman. He’s the most hot-button topic on this Bills team.
Entering his second season, I wouldn’t blame you if you forgot Sanders was on the roster.
Of course, receivers will naturally garner more attention than defensive tackles, yet given Buffalo’s defensive struggles in the playoffs and Buffalo’s new defensive coordinator fresh on everyone’s mind, you’d think the former No. 41 overall selection would be generating some semblance of buzz before Week 1.
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And his quiet rookie season — that did feature a reasonably serious injury — may be the main cause of the general apathy regarding Sanders right now.
He missed five games with a knee injury and appeared on just 30.2% of the Bills defensive snaps. And, yes, there were some ugly reps once he returned from said injury, particularly when anchoring against double teams against the run.
But that’s not why the Bills drafted Sanders, to devour blockers and free up second-level teammates. Having thoroughly scouted him at South Carolina — and loving him as a prospect — I believe Brandon Beane traded up to snag Sanders at No. 41 to be the upfield penetrating understudy to Ed Oliver.
Sure, there’ll be an uptick in read-then-react asks of trench players in Leonhard’s scheme. However, Oliver will still be the primary one-gap backfield disruptor. And he needs a rotational piece behind him. That’s where Sanders can be an asset on this new-look defense.
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Despite those ugly run-game reps, plays in which Sanders was easily displaced from the intended running lane, he did generate 13 pressures on 164 pass-rushing snaps in the regular season as a rookie, good for a respectable, bordering-on-encouraging 7.9% pressure rate. At defensive tackle in the NFL, once you’re pressure rate hits double digits, you’re a darn-good rusher.
And the talent is undeniable with Sanders. Here’s a reminder of how athletic he tested before the 2025 draft:
He’s an explosive dude at close to 300 pounds. In his final two seasons at South Carolina, Sanders tallied 16.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks. The production was there in the SEC, no doubt.
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The general indifference surrounding him, I think, is due not just the lowlights but the long stretches of invisibility and reps with average-at-best effort during his debut NFL campaign. Now, of course, his knee injury must be considered on those fronts.
But if a now fully healthy Sanders can play motivated and taps into all of his natural talent, he can become a seriously valuable member of Leonhard’s defensive front that features a plethora of new players.
And the flashes were there against the Panthers in the preseason opener. At 3-technique, check the efficiency of Sanders’ counter move that resulted in a pressure of Kenny Pickett:
And even that wasn’t the quickest one-on-one win from Sanders in Buffalo’s exhibition opener. And, sure, he did miss a tackle in this game and didn’t record an official stat — yet these reps provided a glimpse of what he’s capable of in a pure pass-rushing role:
If, when Oliver needs a rest, Sanders can jump into that 3T spot and provide lightning-quick wins like those, it’ll be an enormous development for Leonhard’s defense.
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Defensive tackles with that first-step explosiveness and powerful hand work aren’t easy to come by in the NFL, and those attributes are exactly why he was a Top 50 selection a year ago.
Here’s the abridged version of my pre-draft scouting report on Sanders:
T.J. Sanders is a tall, athletic interior defensive lineman who excels with a mix of counter moves and relentless effort across all three downs. His rushes are often high, which limits his power, but he compensates with strong hand usage and savvy technique. He shows a good burst off the snap and demonstrates excellent hand placement, frequently utilizing the swipe and arm-over move.
Despite his height and frame, Sanders possesses impressive lateral mobility and flexibility, allowing him to squeeze through gaps and perform well on stunts. His strength is a work in progress for NFL double-team situations. As a run defender, Sanders stands out for his relentless pursuit from the backside and reliable tackling.
He was my No. 3 IDL with a late Round 2 – early Round 3 grade.
Over the past close to a decade now, the Bills have done a masterful job developing raw-ish talents within their program. Josh Allen is, quite obviously, the shining example.
Sanders is Buffalo’s latest project with immense upside.
And if that upside is realized in Year 2, the Bills defensive front will be a lot better than everyone is expecting, which is why Sanders is the ultimate defensive X-factor on this team.
