Just in time for training camp, another former Gamecock is officially locked in for his future in the NFL. On Thursday night, the Buffalo Bills signed defensive lineman T.J. Sanders to his rookie contract, a massive four-year, $10.645 million deal with an impressive $10.073 million guaranteed. That is a whooping 95% of the NFL contract guaranteed, one of the largest for any second-round pick in NFL history, behind his former Gamecock teammate Nick Emmanwori.
The deal for Sanders was confirmed by his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, and comes as a part of a late wave of signings following a two-month holdout trend by most second-round picks in the NFL Draft. With few rookies landing fully guaranteed deals in the early part of the offseason, agents across the league have held the line to push for bigger guarantees. But with training camps beginning, teams are starting to make big moves to lock in the talent. And Sanders is now officially a Buffalo Bill.
— Tj Sanders (@Tj_Sanders24) July 18, 2025
The Bills know that Sanders is a key piece of their defensive future, as the former South Carolina standout was turning heads during his junior year. Sanders possesses a unique blend of size, quickness, and relentless motor that dominated the SEC interior lines. Now, he will be counted on to bring that same energy to the big stage in the NFL. He is expected to see meaningful snaps as a rookie for Buffalo. The Bills defensive front has undergone some reshuffling, and the 6-foot-5, 290-pound Gamecock has the versatility and explosive power to land an immediate role.
South Carolina fans now have not one, but two, players from the Gamecock defense in the league with record-breaking contracts and major expectations. First, it was Emmanwori in Seattle. Now, it is Sanders in Buffalo. The Gamecocks are officially cashing in.