Buffalo Bills outside linebacker and former Clemson edge rusher TJ Parker is already opening eyes and turning heads, ahead of his rookie NFL season.

Parker, who was drafted by the Bills in the second round of this year’s NFL draft with the 35th overall pick, has been impressing new teammates during offseason workouts – including veteran defensive tackle Ed Oliver.

Parker’s explosive speed wowed Oliver, who is entering his eighth NFL season, all with the Bills after being drafted by the franchise with the ninth overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.

Oliver, 28, called Parker a “cheat code” after seeing him on film, matching a running back step-for-step downfield.

“I saw him on film the other day, chasing a running back,” Oliver said after a mandatory minicamp practice on June 9, “and I said, ‘Who the heck is that matching the running back step-for-step?’ I was like, oh, he’s a cheat code. … He’s explosive, fast — a young kid. I don’t know what his role is going to be this year, but I’m happy to play with him.”

Oliver isn’t the only teammate that Parker has apparently impressed.

Bills outside linebacker Bradley Chubb seems to have taken a liking to Parker also, as the ninth-year pro invited the 21-year-old rookie to work out with him this offseason prior to the start of Buffalo’s training camp on July 29.

 “I asked him where he was training at,” Parker said of Chubb after Bills minicamp on June 11. “I knew I was going to go back to Clemson and train, and he was like, ‘Man, come with me.’ So [we’re going down to Florida] — get in that heat and let’s work. I’m super excited about that and can’t wait to continue building that bond.”

That invitation from the 29-year-old Chubb, an established veteran and two-time Pro Bowler, is something Parker certainly appreciates.

“Man, it means a lot to me,” Parker said. “He doesn’t have to do that. He’s a veteran guy — he can go work out and train by himself. But for him to like me, that means a lot to me.”

After earning freshman All-American honors in 2023, Parker was a second-team All-ACC selection for his performance in 2024, when he was the only player in the nation to rank in the top 10 nationally in forced fumbles (six; T-2nd), tackles for loss (19.5; 5th) and sacks (11; 9th).

Parker tallied 144 tackles, including 41.5 for loss in his Clemson career from 2023-25. Of those 41.5 tackles for loss, 21.5 were sacks. He also forced six fumbles, recovered six fumbles and broke up five passes in his 39-game career.

The Phenix City, Ala., native exited Clemson ranked 10th in career sacks and tied for fourth in career fumbles recovered. He also set the Clemson record for forced fumbles in a single season with his six in 2024. He was the only player in the nation to reach both five forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries across the 2024 and ’25 seasons.

Parker discussed what his approach was entering his first NFL mandatory minicamp.

“I think my mindset was just to get better every day,” he said. “Coming in, being a rookie, I know there’s some expectations I have for myself. For me, it’s just a process – getting better every day at my craft and just learning the playbook and understanding how to be a true pro.”