Buffalo Bills 2020 NFL Draft: Quick reaction grade for A.J. Epenesa
The Buffalo Bills stay at 54th overall but still get one of the top pass rushers in this class with A.J. Epenesa.
One of the top needs for the Buffalo Bills entering the 2020 NFL Draft was getting youth at the defensive end position. The top of the depth chart is on the wrong side of 30 with Jerry Hughes, Trent Murphy and Mario Addison all over 30 by the end of the upcoming season.
They not only got a player who can be a long term answer at the position but a player who could contribute right away as a rookie.
Epenesa was a productive player at Iowa and in the last two seasons had double digit sacks for this defense. He isn’t necessarily a speed rusher but he has great size as a 4-3 defensive end but also allows versatility along the defensive line.
Epenesa is a player that should be able to set the edge and be a force against the run. However, when the Bills need to get a speed rush, they can slid him inside and rush from the defensive tackle position. This type of versatility is something that Sean McDermott and Brandon Beane have always valued.
In terms of value, this is a fantastic pick as Epenesa was considered possible going as high in the later half of the first round. The fact that the Bills were able to get him in the second round and not having to trade up to get him is a win.
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The Buffalo Bills likely entered this pick likely taking the best player available. Fortunately for them, the best player available was one that fills a need. It is hard to find a reason to dislike this pick considering the player they got and the options they had.
Grade: A+