The Buffalo Bills focused on defense in the 2025 NFL draft, using their first five picks on defensive players. GM Brandon Beane traded up from No. 56 to No. 41 to land former South Carolina standout T.J. Sanders early in the second round. After a lengthy negotiation, the team has now reached an agreement with the rookie defensive tackle.

The Bills signed Sanders to a four-year, $10.645 million contract that includes $10.073 million guaranteed, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Guaranteed money had been the sticking point during protracted negotiations between Sanders and Buffalo. Before this season, only first-round draft picks received fully guaranteed deals. But the Houston Texans changed everything with Jayden Higgins’s historic contract. The Texans made the 34th overall pick the first second-rounder to ever receive a fully guaranteed deal.

The Cleveland Browns followed suit, signing 33rd overall pick Carson Schwesinger to a fully guaranteed $11.8 million contract. These signings wreaked havoc on the NFL, creating a stalemate as the 30 other second-round picks held out for guaranteed money.

Bills guarantee nearly 95% of T.J. Sanders’ rookie contract

Over two months after Higgins and Schwesinger signed, the first domino finally fell. San Francisco 49ers’ second-rounder Alfred Collins inked a $10.3 million contract with 88% guaranteed. The deal had a ripple effect leading to a number of second-rounders signing.

The Bills were able to reach an agreement with Sanders and now the 21-year-old rookie can focus on preparing for the upcoming season. Both Sanders and fourth-round pick Deone Walker are expected to have big roles on the Bills’ defensive line behind veterans DaQuan Jones and Ed Oliver.

In addition to bolstering the interior of the line Buffalo improved on the edge, signing Joey Bosa to a one-year, $12.5 million deal. The Bills also drafted former Arkansas pass rusher Landon Jackson in the third round.