The Green Bay Packers must use the 2020 NFL Draft to provide the finishing touches on a team that won 13 regular-season games and got within one game of the Super Bowl during Matt LaFleur’s first season as head coach.
Between now and the draft, Packers Wire will periodically break down one top prospect fitting the Packers’ roster needs.
Up next is Iowa defensive lineman A.J. Epenesa:
What he can do
– Imposing size at 6-5, 275 with 34.5″ arms; has rare combination of length and power
– A highly-touted recruit coming out of high school, Epenesa was the first five-star player to commit to Iowa since 2009; was named Second-team AP All-American and First-team All-Big Ten in 2019
– Ultra productive during his three seasons in the college ranks; tallied 26.5 sacks, 36 tackles for loss and nine forced fumbles over his 37 career games; posted back-to-back seasons of double-digit sacks in 2018 (10.5) and 2019 (11.5)
– Played his hardest when it mattered most; produced eight of his 11.5 sacks in Iowa’s final five games
– Dominated against Minnesota, Nebraska and USC; racked up 14 tackles (five for loss) and two sacks against Nebraska; logged 2.5 sacks against USC left tackle Austin Jackson, a likely first-round pick in this year’s draft
– Despite seeing a multitude of double-teams, PFF credited him with 58 quarterback pressures on 450 pass-rushing snaps in 2019, good for a 13% pressure rate
– Lacks elite twitch or athleticism but makes up for it with pure power and brawn; shows exceptional play strength
– Stiff hips with little bend in his pass rushes; won’t beat you with speed off the edge
– Holds up well at the point of attack in the run game; won’t be moved off the ball easily
– Uses his hands effectively and with good technique; violent punches and hand swipes make it difficult for offensive linemen to latch on
– Has a go-to “long arm” pass-rush move that he uses to attack the inside shoulder of opposing offensive tackles to gain inside leverage, creating a shorter path to the quarterback
– Effective bull rush against offensive tackles; collapses the pocket causing disruption, even when he can’t physically get to the quarterback
– High motor, never gives up on plays; played career-high 767 snaps in 2019
– May be better suited to line up in an odd-man front as a 3-4 defensive end due to his power and size; has experience rushing from the interior
How he fits
In Green Bay, Epenesa would likely play a similar role to how Za’Darius Smith is used. He can set the edge in the run game but also rush the passer from the interior, lining up over a guard as a three-tech defensive tackle. Late in the 2019 season, Iowa defensive coordinator Phil Parker moved Epenesa inside on obvious passing downs because he was seeing too many double teams from tackles and tight ends. The result was an obvious mismatch.
Overall, Epenesa would be a versatile lineman who could line up anywhere along the defensive line, much like Smith. He probably isn’t best suited as a stand up rusher, but rather coming out of a three-point stance with his hand in the dirt. If we’ve learned anything over the past few seasons, it’s that you can never have enough good defensive linemen in your rotation.
NFL comp
He compares favorably to Lions defensive end Trey Flowers. Both play with heavy hands and rely on power and technique to beat opposing linemen. Like Flowers, Epenesa may not be 15-sack type of guy, but he’ll get a consistent seven to eight sacks per year. Flowers has averaged seven sacks per season over his last four years as a starter.
Where Packers could get him
They’d likely need to use pick No. 30 in the first round – that is, if he falls that far in the first place. While he wasn’t flashy at the NFL Scouting Combine (5.04 40-yard dash, 17 bench reps), teams will quickly be reminded by what they saw on tape. It’s worth noting the Packers historically value prospects from Iowa’s program.
Previous Prospects for the Pack
WR Tee Higgins
LB Kenneth Murray
LB Patrick Queen
WR Jalen Reagor
WR Justin Jefferson
TE Harrison Bryant
WR Denzel Mims
WR Brandon Aiyuk
WR/TE Chase Claypool
LB Zack Baun
LB Akeem Davis-Gaither
OT Josh Jones
WR Laviska Shenault
OT Austin Jackson
S Antoine Winfield Jr.
DL Raekwon Davis
DB Xavier McKinney
WR Donovan Peoples-Jones