Battle For No. 1 Overall: A.J. Epenesa, Iowa
By Seth Steere
Iowa defensive lineman A.J.Epenesa is already garnering early first-round hype. With his size and length, he could end up near the top of the 2020 NFL draft.
A.J. Epenesa is an absolute monster who’s currently listed at an unofficial 6’6″, 280 pounds. He brings a rare level of athletic ability along with his size, too.
Unlike most players with his talent level, Epenesa was involved in a rotation last season, seeing only 412 snaps in 2018. Even with limited snaps, he still stuffed the stat sheet. Epenesa accumulated 10.5 sacks, 16.5 tackles for loss, and 4 forced fumbles.
Epenesa wins with his size and length. One of his most effective moves is a bull-rush. He’s extremely powerful and is able to create leverage with his long arms. He isn’t a finished product as a pass-rusher (needs to add more to his arsenal), but with more reps in 2019, he should develop into a stud.
Epenesa is much more effective in the run game than Ohio State’s Chase Young. His size is certainly a plus, but his strength is what puts him over the top. He can stack and shed opposing linemen with more success than Young.
Epenesa is one of the more intriguing prospects in his class. He’s already drawing comparisons to San Franciso 49ers defensive tackle — DeForest Buckner. He could end up an even higher-rated draft prospect if he takes the next step in his development this season.
If Epenesa displays a deeper pass-rush arsenal, his blend of size, power and athleticism will elevate his draft stock to the point where he’ll be in the conversation to be one of the first few players selected next April.