2. AJ Epenesa, Iowa
Size: 6-5, 275
The Good: The guy always produced. He came up with a good freshman year as a key part of the rotation, and then everything kicked in with 86 tackles, 22 sacks and 30.5 tackles for loss over the last two seasons.
With his size, he’s got the ability to fit in any sort of a style and format. Tough against the run, he’s one of the nastier defensive ends in the draft when it comes to holding his own, but he’ll always keep working to get behind the line, too.
One of the best @HawkeyeFootball pass rushers of all time is ready to play on Sundays. 👏
Congratulations to @ajepenesa24 and good luck to all future opposing @NFL quarterbacks. 😳 pic.twitter.com/7MvdB3PgBq
— Iowa On BTN (@IowaOnBTN) January 15, 2020
The Not-So-Good: He’s not really a true NFL pass rusher. He’ll get sacks and plays in the backfield on want-to and power, but if you’re looking for flash and blast off the ball, that’s not Epenesa. Even though he’s strong, he’s not quite a normal NFL 3-4 end and not as fast as you’d like for a 4-3.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: While he might not be your typical pass rusher in a draft loaded with speed guys who can get behind the line, he’s a do-it-all defensive end with ten-year starting potential as an ultra-reliable cog for a line. There’s almost zero bust potential – plug-and-play, and don’t worry about one of your spots on the defensive front.
Projected Round: First