​No, T.J. Sanders isn’t the ideal size for an NFL defensive tackle. That was one of the criticisms leveled at him when the Buffalo Bills drafted him in the second round, 41st overall, of the 2025 NFL draft—especially after South Carolina listed him at 6-foot-5 and 300 pounds, only for him to arrive in the league shorter and lighter at the NFL Scouting Combine. Yet, Sanders’ size talk has faded from the conversation. The focus now is on how good he could be within Buffalo’s defense, now overseen by new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard, with ESPN’s Ben Solak placing Sanders squarely in the mix of potential breakout players in the league.
Solak offered a substantial compliment to Sanders, who stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 297 pounds, by comparing him to versatile Tennessee Titans defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers, who recently signed a three-year, $63 million free-agent contract. “I did not particularly like the Sanders pick for Sean McDermott’s defense in the 2025 draft,” Solak wrote on July 8. “Sanders is an undersized defensive tackle at 297 pounds with a long and upright build. He’s at his best slanting, stunting, and occasionally lining up as a big defensive end in subpackages. In fact, he did just that when he returned from a knee injury to discover a Bills team with a ton of injury issues on the edge. Luckily, that makes Sanders a much more natural fit in new coordinator Jim Leonhard’s defense, which uses three-down fronts and needs big defensive ends to draw multiple players in pass protection while blitzes land from the other side of the line. Sanders is unlikely to become a high-impact player like, say, John Franklin-Myers overnight, but he’s a good candidate to evolve into a dirty work champion in Buffalo’s reimagined defense.”
Sanders, a South Carolina native, chose to stay in his home state for college and flourished over his final two seasons with the Gamecocks, piling up 93 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 16.5 tackles for loss, and five pass deflections across 25 games in 2024 and 2025.
NFL Draft analyst Lance Zierlein also weighed in, presenting a robust pre-draft assessment that aligned with the Bills’ expectations. He described Sanders as a powerful roadblock with heavy hands and a strong core, noting that he rarely hits the ground. Despite a knee bend that isn’t ideal, Sanders typically gets more than he gives, and blockers struggle to seal him. His punching and quick-locking out, combined with a twitchy shed, allow him to penetrate gaps on both odd- and even-front defenses. Zierlein emphasized Sanders’ blend of power and pressure as giving him a chance to fit as a three-down defender across various schemes.
Even with a minor knee procedure that cost him five games midseason, Sanders appeared in 12 games and started two, also contributing in two playoff appearances. The Bills’ decision to pursue a scheme under Leonhard that leverages three-down fronts and features defensive ends capable of drawing attention in the pass protection game should play to Sanders’ strengths. The expectation now is that Sanders can develop into a durable, disruptive force who can contribute in multiple roles, rather than relying on a classic, plug-and-play interior tackle profile. The question remains whether his technique and consistency will translate to a higher ceiling, but the early signs and the personnel fit suggest Buffalo has a path for him to grow into a credible, versatile contributor in their revamped defense.