Bills newest addition T.J. Parker wins over the hearts of Bills Mafia just seconds after being drafted No. 35th overall in the 2026 NFL Draft
The Buffalo Bills got a good one when they selected T.J. Parker with the 35th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. He didn’t take long to win over the hearts of the Bills Mafia.
Former Clemson EDGE is now a Buffalo Bill after the team picked him with the 35th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
It didn’t take long for Parker to win over the hearts of Bills Mafia. Parker was asked what he knew about Buffalo, and his answer was beyond perfect.
In just under a minute, Parker may have become a fan-favorite with the team’s first selection in the 2026 NFL Draft.
T.J. Parker wins over the Bills Mafia with a perfect response after being drafted
“I know one thing: the fans love football,” Parker said. “That’s one thing I love. I love an organization with a great culture. They’re going to show up for us through the ups and downs. I’m excited to get up there and meet everybody.”
What a perfect response from the budding star. He’s got big shoes to fill, and will be asked a lot of during his rookie season. Although it is nice to have Greg Rousseau and Bradley Chubb at the same position to help pour into him.
Parker was asked about his communication with Buffalo leading up to being selected, and he once again pointed to the culture as one of the driving factors of why he’s so excited to get to work. You can feel the enthusiasm oozing off of him in the press conference.
“I talked to them briefly at the Senior Bowl,” Parker said. “You know, they loved my tape. They liked the way I finished at the end of the season. You know, starting off, team-wise, was a little rough. We always had great contact. We had some guys who worked in the building, former Clemson athletes. Just having that great relationship with them early on, since my freshman year, has been great. From there, when I got the call, and it said Buffalo, New York, I was super excited just to get up here and work. You guys have a great culture, you guys work hard, and you guys wanna win, and that’s all about me.”
Parker gets honest after a drop in production in 2025
Parker had 11 sacks in 2024; this past season only managed five sacks. Obviously, sacks are hard to get. The talented pass rusher was asked about why he saw a drop in his game. Parker didn’t falter at the question and took it head-on. That’s the kind of leadership you love to see out of your newly acquired weapon.
“Honestly, I think I had a good year,” Parker said. “I feel like a lot of stuff on tape I’ve improved from my sophomore year to my junior year. Now I didn’t have the same amount of sack production, but at the same time I put great things on tape [ . . . ] We put together a good season.”
That kind of accountability, paired with his clear love for the game and respect for the culture in Buffalo, is exactly what this organization is built on. If this is the mindset Parker is bringing on day one, it won’t take long before he’s not just a fan-favorite, but a difference-maker on Sundays.
