T.J. Parker to Bills, Fans React to Team's 1st 2026 NFL Draft Pick After Trading Out of Round 1

The Buffalo Bills selected Clemson edge-rusher T.J. Parker in the second round of the 2026 NFL draft on Friday, adding him with the No. 35 overall pick.

Buffalo initially held the No. 31 choice in the draft, but traded it to the Tennessee Titans on Thursday. The Bills received pick No. 35, No. 66 and No. 101 in exchange for No. 31, No. 69 and No. 165.

Fans and pundits reacted to the selection of Parker.

Parker immediately excelled as a freshman with Clemson in 2023, amassing 12.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks in 13 games.

He took a step forward during his 2024 campaign, as he recorded 19.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks to go along with six forced fumbles. Parker earned a second-team All-ACC selection for his efforts.

The 21-year-old's production declined in 2025, though.

In 12 games last season, Parker finished with 37 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, five sacks and one pass defended.

He was listed as the No. 3 edge-rusher and No. 23 overall prospect in the 2026 class on the final big board from Bleacher Report's NFL Scouting Department.

B/R NFL Scout Matt Holder highlighted Parker's run defense in his scouting report.

"T.J. Parker is a 6'3", 260-pound edge defender with the size, strength and physicality to be a high-quality run defender and power-rusher at the next level," Holder wrote.

It isn't hard to imagine him providing a boost to a Bills defensive front that only ranked No. 27 among all NFL teams with a 31 percent pass-rush win rate in 2025, via ESPN.

The selection of Parker and the free-agent signing of Bradley Chubb should help Buffalo put more pressure on opposing quarterbacks next season.