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Buffalo Bills: Re-drafting the 2020 NFL Draft one year later

By Kendall Mirsky

ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 03: Josh Norman #29 of the Buffalo Bills celebrates with A.J. Epenesa #57 after scoring a touchdown against the Miami Dolphins in the third quarter at Bills Stadium on January 03, 2021 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 03: Josh Norman #29 of the Buffalo Bills celebrates with A.J. Epenesa #57 after scoring a touchdown against the Miami Dolphins in the third quarter at Bills Stadium on January 03, 2021 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images) /
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FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – DECEMBER 28: Jarrett Stidham #4 of the New England Patriots looks to pass as A.J. Epenesa #57 of the Buffalo Bills defends during the second half at Gillette Stadium on December 28, 2020 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – DECEMBER 28: Jarrett Stidham #4 of the New England Patriots looks to pass as A.J. Epenesa #57 of the Buffalo Bills defends during the second half at Gillette Stadium on December 28, 2020 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Getty Images) /

Round 2 – Pick 22 (54th Overall)

One of the bigger surprises of last year’s draft was just how far A.J. Epenesa slipped. Just a year earlier, Epenesa was looked at as one of the best edge rushers in his draft class. Not only was Epenesa considered a top edge rusher in last year’s draft, but for quite some time he was viewed as a Top 10 pick. How he fell as late as he did into the second round is still a question that can only be answered by scouts and general managers around the league.

Heading into the draft last year, the top areas of need for the Buffalo Bills were to get younger at edge rusher, get a complimentary back to Devin Singletary, and find a corner to play opposite of Tre’Davious White. At pick 54 overall, the most obvious areas to improve for the Bills were at either edge rusher or running back.

Both A.J. Epenesa and J.K. Dobbins were available for the Bills’ second round pick. Retrospectively, it seems the Bills made the right decision. Although Dobbins may have been the sexier pick, Epenesa was a better value pick at 54 overall.

Furthermore, it would be unfair to Singletary and Zack Moss to assume that Dobbins would have any more success than they did with how poorly the Bills offensive line played in terms of run blocking this past year.

Additionally, the Bills still need to get younger on the defensive line and get better in regards to creating pressure on opposing quarterbacks. This reinforces the idea that Brandon Beane got out in front of the Bills’ weaknesses by drafting Epenesa with the pick they did.

To sum up the Bills second round selection, the only other argument would have been to draft Dobbins, but the Bills made the right pick for the future by selecting A.J. Epenesa.

Original Pick: A.J. Epenesa

Re-Draft Pick: A.J. Epenesa

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