The Denver Broncos could see wholesale changes occur on the defensive side of the ball this offseason. With Chris Harris, Derek Wolfe, Justin Simmons, Shelby Harris and Adam Gotsis all set to become free agents, the defense could have a lot of new faces for Vic Fangio in 2020.
Denver will most likely put re-signing Simmons at the top of its priority list. The former third-round pick is just entering his prime and is coming off a season in which he recorded career-highs with four interceptions and 15 pass deflections. It’s a coin flip on whether or not Harris will be back in a Broncos uniform.
The position group where the most turnover could occur is the defensive line. Wolfe, Gotsis, Harris and Mike Purcell are all pending free agents. Even if Denver does opt to bring two of those four players back, they’ll need to add reinforcements.
One player that could be a good fit for the Broncos up front is A.J. Epenesa. The Iowa Hawkeyes defensive lineman could be a potential target for John Elway when the Broncos are on the clock with the 15th pick in the NFL Draft.
This past season marked the first year that Epenesa was a starter for Kirk Ferentz and the Hawkeyes. During his freshman and sophomore seasons, Epenesa was a part of the defensive line rotation but was not a starter. In those two seasons, he tallied 15 sacks and 22 tackles for losses, while also earning All Big-10 honors in 2018.
As a starter this past season, Epenesa faced constant double teams and finished with 11.5 sacks and 14.5 tackles for losses.
Epenesa possesses strong, heavy hands and he has a relentless motor. He plays with good leverage and sets the edge against the run.
The highly productive Hawkeye won’t be for everybody. He isn’t the most explosive pass rusher in this draft and that lack of “juice” could drop him down some team’s boards. However, due to that lack of explosiveness, Epenesa has developed an array of pass rush moves.
“What stands out most about Epenesa is his ability to trim the edge,” Jake Schyvinck, an NFL Draft analyst for FanSided.com, told Broncos Wire. “Since he doesn’t have wicked quickness or bend, Epenesa has to find other ways to get to the quarterback.
“He’s so tactical as a pass rusher with hand usage, and gets tackles off balance early on. He finishes well with his lower body strength.”
With Bradley Chubb set to return from a torn ACL in 2020, the Broncos have the makings of one of the best pass-rushing duos in the NFL. Now Denver needs to build around them. Epenesa would be a great building block up front for the Broncos.
“His other trait that stands out is his versatility,” Schyvinck said. “He created a lot of pressure late in the 2019 season rushing from the 3-tech spot, taking advantage of slower guards. Epenesa should definitely be in consideration for the Broncos. You can’t have enough pass rushers, and Epenesa’s versatility makes him intriguing alongside Miller and Chubb.”
Denver could go a lot of different directions with the 15th pick. The team could opt to draft a wide receiver to pair with Courtland Sutton. They could continue to build up the offensive line. They could draft a cornerback.
If Epenesa is on the board when the Broncos are on the clock, he should be under consideration as well.
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