The Buffalo Bills finally got their name on the scoreboard while taking one off of the draft board at the 2026 NFL Draft with the selection of TJ Parker.
Parker, a linebacker and edge defender in the new defensive scheme coming under coordinator Jim Leonard, comes to Buffalo after the team traded out of Round 1 on Thursday. The Bills used the No. 35 overall selection on Parker in the second round.
Early reactions from around the football world are good on the Clemson product coming to the Bills… but there were a few mixed one.
Parker recorded 21.5 sacks, 41.5 tackles for a loss, four pass deflections, and six forced fumbles over 39 career games. That’s good production, so why is Parker not a first-round pick?
Clemson’s entire football program took a rare step back in 2025. Parker was part of that, but the year prior, he had a better showing. The Bills appear to be banking on that version of Parker and some of the football world does not mind it once bit.
Here is a roundup of national media reaction to the Bills’ selection of Parker:
Reactions: Bills select LB T.J. Parker at No. 35
Reactions: Bills select LB T.J. Parker at No. 35
Reactions: Bills select LB T.J. Parker at No. 35
Reactions: Bills select LB T.J. Parker at No. 35
Reactions: Bills select LB T.J. Parker at No. 35
Reactions: Bills select LB T.J. Parker at No. 35
Reactions: Bills select LB T.J. Parker at No. 35
Reactions: Bills select LB T.J. Parker at No. 35
Reactions: Bills select LB T.J. Parker at No. 35
Reactions: Bills select LB T.J. Parker at No. 35
Reactions: Bills select LB T.J. Parker at No. 35
Reactions: Bills select LB T.J. Parker at No. 35
Reactions: Bills select LB T.J. Parker at No. 35
Reactions: Bills select LB T.J. Parker at No. 35
Reactions: Bills select LB T.J. Parker at No. 35
This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: National reactions: Did Bills land steal in TJ Parker at No. 35 pick?
Reporting by USA TODAY / Bills Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
