What are Reasonable Expectations for T.J. Sanders This Upcoming Year?

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

15 hours ago, ToGoGo said:

If he grows his family he could also open a chain of hardware stores called “TJ Sanders and Sons”. 

Possibly, but the megacorp big box stores seem to do a good job burying the small independents.

[transient]

On 4/16/2026 at 7:08 AM, Ridgewaycynic2013 said:

With a folksy, friendly name like that, I think he should explore opening a chain of family friendly restaurants. 🤔

TJFC's. Instead of "Original Recipe" chicken, they can have "Original Formula" chicken. Instead of "Extra Crispy" chicken, they can have "Extra Crunchy" chicken. Instead of buttermilk biscuits, they can serve sour cream biscuits. Instead of the Big Mac, their burger can be the Big Mick, which is the same just without sesame seeds on the bun. And instead of the Golden Arches, their restaurants can have the Golden Arcs... 

[bigK14094]

He will be in the rotation somewhere.  Not sure he is the starter, preseason and camp will tell the tail.

He will be in the rotation somewhere.  Not sure he is the starter, preseason and camp will tell the tail.

He will be in the rotation somewhere.  Not sure he is the starter, preseason and camp will tell the tail.

He will be in the rotation somewhere.  Not sure he is the starter, preseason and camp will tell the tail.

He will be in the rotation somewhere.  Not sure he is the starter, preseason and camp will tell the tail.

[wppete]

On 4/16/2026 at 7:25 AM, ***** said:

He was worthless last year.  

I think the injuries and McDermotts ego had a big part of a mediocre season. He should be much better next year as a 3-4 DE that attacks.   

[BeyondTheProcess]

total misfit, too small for NT, not quick enough for 4i.   Both Sanders and Walker were drafted for McD's defensive alignment, which no longer exists.   Welcome to the world of fire your HC and start all over with roster construction.   Guess Pegs didn't think of that when he knee jerked McD out of the building.   All good, Beane and Pegs now need to very quickly reshuffle the roster to fit what Leonard does, which is vastly different from what McD burned into the D over the past ump teen years... 

 

[BigAl2526]

On 4/16/2026 at 11:11 AM, jahnyc said:

He did not look good last year, particularly when he was playing as a DE.  In our defense under Leonhard, it appears he may be more suited to DE.  If this is the case, is playing DE in Leonhard's expected defense significantly different than playing DE in McD's defense?

Trying to play DE in a 4-3 defense was an exercise in frustration for Sanders and for fans.  In the end, the only thing that it accomplished was to slow his development as a defensive tackle.  That's not to say that Sanders' success at DE in a 3-4 defense is anywhere close to a sure thing but he'll be working at improving his skill set in the position he's supposed to be playing.  He should be a far better fit at DE in a 3-4 alignment than he did in a 4-3.  The two positions are completely different.  

[JohnNord]

On 4/16/2026 at 3:41 AM, HIT BY SPIKES said:

He had almost 300 snaps last year.

 

Rotating role or is he ready to start on the DL assuming Oliver and Walker are both healthy?

Reasonable stats - 1.5 sacks in 2026.  Boogie Basham levels of production seems about right

On 4/16/2026 at 12:26 PM, CookieG said:

He makes trading for Dexter Lawrence unnecessary. 

 

Just trying a little optimism

 

 

Boogie Basham is a great comp FR

[Mike R]

Not much.

[JohnNord]

19 hours ago, wppete said:

I think the injuries and McDermotts ego had a big part of a mediocre season. He should be much better next year as a 3-4 DE that attacks.   

This is a convenient excuse 

11 hours ago, BeyondTheProcess said:

total misfit, too small for NT, not quick enough for 4i.   Both Sanders and Walker were drafted for McD's defensive alignment, which no longer exists.   Welcome to the world of fire your HC and start all over with roster construction.   Guess Pegs didn't think of that when he knee jerked McD out of the building.   All good, Beane and Pegs now need to very quickly reshuffle the roster to fit what Leonard does, which is vastly different from what McD burned into the D over the past ump teen years... 

 

Yes, and it’s not just Sanders and Walker.  You also have players like Landon Jackson, DeWayne Carter and Terrell Bernard at LB.  Maybe even Dorian Williams.  
 

it’s largely the same group as last season, partly because these players were higher draft picks and I think Beane wants to show that he can draft.  

 

So much of the success this season will come down to Jim Leonhard.  It’s a lot to ask for a first-time DC but it’s the position he’s in. 

 

Of course if he’s bad there will be tons of excuses.  If he’s really good, there’s a chance he could be a HC very soon…if not 2027

[BeyondTheProcess]

27 minutes ago, JohnNord said:

This is a convenient excuse 

Yes, and it’s not just Sanders and Walker.  You also have players like Landon Jackson, DeWayne Carter and Terrell Bernard at LB.  Maybe even Dorian Williams.  
 

it’s largely the same group as last season, partly because these players were higher draft picks and I think Beane wants to show that he can draft.  

 

So much of the success this season will come down to Jim Leonhard.  It’s a lot to ask for a first-time DC but it’s the position he’s in. 

 

Of course if he’s bad there will be tons of excuses.  If he’s really good, there’s a chance he could be a HC very soon…if not 2027

 

If Leonard can make his defense work with players drafted for McD's completely different scheme , he is a genius. 

 

On paper, no way this works and Bills will be giving up big play after big play trying to attack with guys who have been playing catch (hoping Josh gets them a big lead) for 5+ years.   Every game will be 38-35 IMHO, either side having an equal chance to come out ahead.   Go Bills .  Should be interesting. 

[BarleyNY]

10 hours ago, BigAl2526 said:

Trying to play DE in a 4-3 defense was an exercise in frustration for Sanders and for fans.  In the end, the only thing that it accomplished was to slow his development as a defensive tackle.  That's not to say that Sanders' success at DE in a 3-4 defense is anywhere close to a sure thing but he'll be working at improving his skill set in the position he's supposed to be playing.  He should be a far better fit at DE in a 3-4 alignment than he did in a 4-3.  The two positions are completely different.  

I thought McD should’ve been gone long ago, but I was very surprised by the hires of Brady as HC and especially Leonard as DC. I think Leonard is a very, very good coach and would’ve been an excellent hire in many other situations, but not where the Bills were. Allen is in his prime and a bunch of contracts and guaranteed money was just given to players in McD’s defense. Why hire a DC that runs a 3-4 and would require substantial retooling of that side of the ball? It just seems to be the worst possible timing to make a switch like that.

[HIT BY SPIKES]

20 hours ago, BeyondTheProcess said:

 

If Leonard can make his defense work with players drafted for McD's completely different scheme , he is a genius. 

 

On paper, no way this works and Bills will be giving up big play after big play trying to attack with guys who have been playing catch (hoping Josh gets them a big lead) for 5+ years.   Every game will be 38-35 IMHO, either side having an equal chance to come out ahead.   Go Bills .  Should be interesting. 

 

Yeah...I have been thinking the same.

 

It is a concern since as bad as our D was last year, if it were to take another step backward this year, that puts even more pressure on the O to put 35 on the board each and every game as you say.

[GunnerBill]

On 4/18/2026 at 2:15 AM, BigAl2526 said:

Trying to play DE in a 4-3 defense was an exercise in frustration for Sanders and for fans.  In the end, the only thing that it accomplished was to slow his development as a defensive tackle.  That's not to say that Sanders' success at DE in a 3-4 defense is anywhere close to a sure thing but he'll be working at improving his skill set in the position he's supposed to be playing.  He should be a far better fit at DE in a 3-4 alignment than he did in a 4-3.  The two positions are completely different.  

 

In fairness nobody wanted him playing DE in a 4-3. The Bills were forced there by injuries. 

[nuklz2594]

On 4/17/2026 at 11:22 AM, bigK14094 said:

He will be in the rotation somewhere.  Not sure he is the starter, preseason and camp will tell the tail.

He will be in the rotation somewhere.  Not sure he is the starter, preseason and camp will tell the tail.

He will be in the rotation somewhere.  Not sure he is the starter, preseason and camp will tell the tail.

He will be in the rotation somewhere.  Not sure he is the starter, preseason and camp will tell the tail.

He will be in the rotation somewhere.  Not sure he is the starter, preseason and camp will tell the tail.

switch to decaf.....

On 4/16/2026 at 2:01 PM, colin said:

we spent premium type capital on sanders, carter, walker, and jackson in the past 24 months.  walker is inconsistent, but his upside flashes are outstanding, big time potential.  carter looks bad, jackson can't even get a jersey, and sanders looks like a solid bottom of the 3rd rookie after being drafted at the top of the 2nd.

 

bishop was cheeks to start, and looked like a stud last season, so let's hope we get that kind of growth out of at least two of the three underperformers above.  

 

if all three of these goofs can starter level/high snap rotation dlinemen, it's an enormous get for the team.  sadly, i don't have much confidence in them.

bishop gets a "c" on his jersey

[billsfan714]

On 4/18/2026 at 8:19 AM, BarleyNY said:

I thought McD should’ve been gone long ago, but I was very surprised by the hires of Brady as HC and especially Leonard as DC. I think Leonard is a very, very good coach and would’ve been an excellent hire in many other situations, but not where the Bills were. Allen is in his prime and a bunch of contracts and guaranteed money was just given to players in McD’s defense. Why hire a DC that runs a 3-4 and would require substantial retooling of that side of the ball? It just seems to be the worst possible timing to make a switch like that.

My sentiments exactly.  But also hoping for the best because I firmly believe a McD defense would never win a championship. They can use all the picks on the defense and it wouldnt bother me.  

 

Edited April 19 by billsfan714

[MrEpsYtown]

I think Sanders could see a Zach Allen like progression in this defense. Not really an end, not really a tackle, I think Sanders will be the biggest bright surprise this year. I’m irrationally excited about him. 

[machine gun kelly]

On 4/16/2026 at 8:42 AM, SoCal Deek said:

This should be interesting. They used a high draft pick to have him play in a firmly entrenched 4-3 defensive scheme. He was essentially invisible. Now, we expect him to flourish in a completely different scheme? I think not! But I’ll be hoping and praying right along with the rest of you. 

I know.  The whole everything is McDs fault is almost comical at this point.  Beane chose them.  They fail, and it’s on him.  Now can Leonard ca turn these guys around?  I don’t know, but hope so.  We can’t recreate an entire defense in one year.  We can only hope the simplistic see ball, get ball mentality will speed these guys up.

 

As far as Sanders, he played out of position a good portion of the year, so maybe he’ll shine in his natural position.  It’s really up in the air at the point.  None of us really know how these current players plus the draft pics will manage in JL’s system.  I’ll remain hopeful for now.

 

 

[Maine-iac]

I might be wrong but in my head I'm thinking we'll have 3 stout guys and a guy who's literally just supposed to chase the QB vs McDermott's line where the DT's were supposed to be penetrating pass rushers but only got there once in a great while and the DE's were pocket collapsing guys who also got there once in a while.  I'll take my chances with one guy chasing the QB and 3 clean up guys if the one guy can actually move the QB off his spot on most plays.  Mix in that in the 3-4 you can change it up and blitz a different LB and drop the pass rush guy (to change it up).  I'm just hoping the guys who are supposed to be disruptive are actually getting there whoever it ends up being.  As far as scheme we went between Pettine(3-4), Schwartz(4-3), Thurman(3-4), and then McDermott(4-3) and outside of the Rex years played some decent defense.  I'm sure a good DC can make something of the players on this team.

[blacklabel]

Youse will all rue the day you doubted Timbuktu Jamiroquai Sanders!!

[HIT BY SPIKES]

52 minutes ago, blacklabel said:

Youse will all rue the day you doubted Timbuktu Jamiroquai Sanders!!

 

 

You little LEG SWEEPER you...