The Buffalo Bills have made it a clear priority to revamp their defensive line.
That includes selecting three-straight defensive linemen in the draft in rounds two through four.
T.J. Sanders is a player they had a high grade on and traded up in the seconnd round to grab. His college defensive coordinator at the University of South Carolina, Clayton White, believes he will be a disruptive force rushing the passer and stopping the run in the NFL.
“He’s an in-the-backfield kind of guy. He’s a dynamic playmaker when it comes to just making plays at that position,” White said. “I think that position sometimes gets noted for guys that like to clog gaps, to hold their gaps. He’s going to do that, but on top of that stuff I think he’s going to bring a playmaking element to anybody’s defense. Obviously, Buffalo was fortunate enough to get him, but I think he fits their style and what they do on defense.”
White used Sanders up and down the defensive line at multiple positions, from a 5-technique defensive end in certain packages, all the way down to nose tackle, although Clayton says that’s probably not his most favorable role. The Bills have said they like him best as a penetrating 3-technique, while he brings enough versatility to stay on the field no matter the situation.
“He’s not like most defensive tackles that will come out on third down and you put in a defensive end to play his position,” White said. “He’ll definitely be out there on third down passing situations.”
Sanders had 8.5 sacks, 16.5 tackles for loss and 93 tackles over his final two seasons in Columbia. He plays with power, violence and quickness, using his skills as a former basketball player on the football field to beat opposing blockers.
“We actually have a clip of him against Vanderbilt in ’23, he’s actually over the guy doing the (Browns defensive end) Myles Garrett crossover and then he works a move on a guy,” White said. “He loves that stuff. That’s where he really excels and shows his quickness and ability to play in space for a big guy.”
White thinks Sanders has the chance to put add even more muscle and mass to his 6’4”, 297-pound frame once he enters the Bills’ strength and conditioning program. Sanders’ improvement from his first year to his fourth at South Carolina is one of the biggest leaps White has seen.
“He’s the kind of guy who when it’s time to figure an offense out, trying study an offensive line, protections, their slides, who’s going to double team him, he’s going to dissect that stuff,” White said. “He waits for his one-on-ones, and he’s prepared that kind of way to deliver a big play whenever we needed it, so I’ll know he’ll do the same for the Bills and his fans will love that.”