Bills Trade Up To Draft Star Defensive Tackle from SEC

The Buffalo Bills traded up in the second round of the NFL Draft on Friday to add defensive tackle T.J. Sanders from the University of South Carolina.

Sanders had 29 tackles last season to go along with four sacks. 

The trade itself?

Buffalo swapped No. 56, No. 62, and No. 109 to Chicago in exchange for No. 41, No. 72, and No. 240.

The scouting report here?

Sanders is an impressive defender against the run with plenty of wins at the point of attack. He gains control of his blocks and occasionally stands up interior offensive linemen. He also has long arms which give him tremendous extension.

Sanders also gets strong penetration with effective pass-rush technique. However, his pad level could use work and he takes on blocks with a narrow base.

An imposing presence with scheme versatility, Sanders is a powerful player who sets a strong anchor against the run, with a solid base and consistent footwork. He uses his length and active hands to stack and shed would-be blockers to get into the backfield, allowing him to force running plays elsewhere and make quarterbacks bail from the pocket. 

He has a decent first step off the ball that allows him to penetrate quickly, and he converts that explosiveness to power as a pass rusher. His skill set allowed USC to line him up all across the defensive front.

Additionally, his lack of lateral movement skills can be an issue against outside-zone runs. He is a complete player who can dominate the run defense.

As a pass-rusher, he has shown a solid hand-swipe move and bull rush. Also, he is very good at batting down passes at the line of scrimmage as he has a notable vertical leap.