TS #98

T.J. Sanders

Defensive Tackle · South Carolina

A South Carolina lifer whose relentless pass-rush motor and trade-up second-round price tag made him a rotational piece in Buffalo's rookie class.

T.J. Sanders spent his entire college career at South Carolina, developing into an athletic, high-motor interior lineman that Buffalo valued enough to trade up for in the second round of the 2025 draft. He spent his rookie year working into the Bills' deep defensive line rotation.

★ Second-round pick, 2025 NFL Draft (No. 41 overall), acquired via trade with Chicago

★ 9.5 sacks and 18 tackles for loss across 39 games at South Carolina

★ 9.38 Relative Athletic Score at the 2025 NFL Combine

Path to the league

Sanders played all four seasons at South Carolina, appearing in 39 games with 16 starts and totaling 109 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks and six pass deflections. The Buffalo Bills traded up 15 spots in the second round to select him 41st overall in the 2025 NFL Draft after he posted a 9.38 Relative Athletic Score, one of the best marks among defensive tackles in his class.

Career highlights

Sanders' calling card coming out of college was his pursuit and pressure rate, which ranked among the best of any defensive lineman in the 2025 draft class. At 6-foot-4 and 297 pounds, his blend of size and athleticism made him a scheme-versatile fit for Buffalo's front.

2025 season recap

Sanders played a rotational role for the Bills as a rookie, appearing in 12 games with two starts and recording 12 tackles and a sack. He spent part of the season working back from injured reserve before returning to the active roster late in the year.