With defensive tackle T.J. Sanders signing his rookie deal with the Buffalo Bills last week, the team has now officially completed contracts for the entire rookie class. While I know that some will disagree, I think that Sanders is the most important rookie on the Bills’ roster this season.
Some of you may feel that Maxwell Hairston is a more important rookie, which is completely understandable. He was the team’s first-round pick, and he will be competing for a starting spot with Tre’Davious White
and Dane Jackson. While Hairston is likely the most important pick for the future of the Bills, I am not sure if I consider him to be that important for this season. We have all seen a Sean McDermott defense have success with Levi Wallace, Josh Norman, E.J. Gaines, and the aforementioned Dane Jackson. So if Hairston does not win the starting job, or needs some time to develop, I am not as worried about the CB2 spot on the team.
The Bills use a heavy rotation at defensive tackle, which will give Sanders a chance to make an immediate impact in Buffalo. Sure, Ed Oliver (55% of snaps played in 2024) and Daquan Jones (50%) will be locked in as starters, but there are plenty of snaps available for Sanders. Austin Johnson (306 snaps), Jordan Phillips (109) and Quinton Jefferson (113) are no longer on the roster. DeWayne Carter returns (315 snaps), but the former third-round pick left much to be desired during his rookie campaign.
Larry Ogunjobi will command some playing time this season, but the 31-year-old is suspended for the first six games of the season. This suspension immediately opens the door for Sanders to start the season, and I would not be surprised if he plays close to 50% of snaps to begin the year. Sanders is the likely choice to line up next to Oliver on passing downs, and he could provide a spark that the Bills have lacked from the interior against pass-heavy offenses.
While Sean McDermott’s teams have successfully used fringe players at CB2 in the past, the same can not be said as part of the defensive tackle rotation. Sanders will have the opportunity to make an immediate impact for the Bills at a position that has lacked consistency in recent years, making him my most important rookie this season.
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