The Bills waited around to select a steal at the 2020 NFL Draft, according to Pro Football Focus.
The football analytics outlet dubbed their “steals” of the recent draft that was. Buffalo didn’t have a first-round pick, but at the No. 54 overall slot, the Bills grabbed AJ Epenesa, who was the No. 20 overall prospect on PFF’s pre-draft big board.
Here’s how his addition to the list was broken down:
Epenesa isn’t a freak athlete and has no burst off the line, but he does have incredible hands, power and technique that he used at Iowa to rack up 138 pressures since 2017 (sixth most). Not to mention, he’s versatile and can play at any alignment. Epenesa was a first-round talent in this class.
Only time will tell if Espensa is truly a first-round talent. But his spot in Buffalo might give him the best opportunity to prove he is. With the Bills as a rookie, Epenesa won’t need to produce right away. Instead, he can focus on improving his game while he’s in a rotation behind the likes of Jerry Hughes and Mario Addison on Buffalo’s defensive line. The Bills could be a tailor-made team for Epenesa to join for him to have long-term success in the NFL.
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