Editor’s note: This is the first in a series previewing the Bills’ position groups as training camp looms. Today: Defensive tackles.
The Buffalo Bills won’t ever say it publicly, but they put Ed Oliver on notice during the NFL draft.
By trading up for South Carolina defensive tackle T.J. Sanders in the second round, the Bills did more than just add at defensive tackle – they also gave themselves a potential out on Oliver’s contract after the 2025 season.
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The Bills are still seeking more consistency from defensive tackle Ed Oliver. Harry Scull Jr., Buffalo News
Oliver’s 2025 cap hit is $11.24 million for the upcoming season, which ranks as the fifth largest on the team. That cap hit jumps to $24.195 million in 2026. That is a huge number for a player who hasn’t always delivered in the biggest moments. The story on Oliver has been the same for a while now: He is a good player who can sometimes take over games – and sometimes disappear.
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The Bills have made several changes to their defensive line, but one thing is unchanged: The team needs Oliver to consistently deliver.
Buffalo Bills roundtable: What is team's biggest overall concern entering training camp?
Bills roundtable: What is the biggest overall concern?
On the roster: 9
DeWayne Carter, Marcus Harris, DaQuan Jones, Zion Logue, Larry Ogunjobi, Ed Oliver, Casey Rogers, T.J. Sanders, Deone Walker.
**How many on the final 53?**Five.
Most impactful
offseason move
Drafting Sanders. The Bills valued him enough to move up to the 41st overall pick in the second round to take him out of South Carolina. A former high school basketball player, Sanders uses good footwork to get into the backfield. He’s a bit undersized for the position by NFL standards at 297 pounds, but is a better run defender than might be expected. Sanders could pair with Oliver on third downs to give the Bills a pair of impactful interior pass rushers. Those guys are hard to find in the NFL, which shows why the Bills valued Sanders the way they did in the draft.
T.J. Sanders being counted on to play a big role on the Bills' D-line – but first, he needs to sign
There is good reason to believe that the best is yet to come for T.J. Sanders. The Buffalo Bills certainly believe that to be true, which explains why the team traded up in the second round of the NFL draft in April to select him.
Biggest question to
answer in camp
How quickly can the rookies be ready? In addition to Sanders, the Bills added the big body in the middle fans had been asking for in the fourth round when they took Kentucky’s massive Deone Walker, a 6-foot-7, 331-pounder. Not many people on the planet can move like Walker can at that size. A back injury slowed Walker last season with the Wildcats, pushing his draft stock down. The Bills could be the beneficiaries of that. With veteran free agent addition Larry Ogunjobi suspended for the first six games, the Bills will be counting on Walker and Sanders to be Week 1 contributors.
Battle to watch
Zion Logue vs. the field. The Bills claimed Logue off waivers last season from Atlanta and he initially spent time on the 53-man roster. He was eventually sent down to the practice squad. At 6-6 and 314 pounds, Logue has the size to be a force in the middle of the defense. He’s still just 22 years old, too, so there is a lot of untapped potential. With the additions made at the position, though, he’ll need a great preseason to convince the front office and coaching staff he should stick on the active roster.
Under-the-radar player
DeWayne Carter. The 2024 third-round pick has become somewhat of a forgotten man with all the other additions at the position. Carter knows he’ll have to elevate his game entering his second professional season. A wrist injury suffered midway through his rookie year derailed his season, but Carter is healthy again. He’s a bit of a tweener, which can be viewed as somewhat of a positive or negative. It’s good that he can back up both tackle spots, but it is still a bit tough to tell which one he 1s better suited for. Especially with Ogunjobi suspended early, Carter will be counted on.
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