A.J. Epenesa, EDGE, Buffalo Bills

A.J. Epenesa’s fall through the NFL Draft to the end of the second round was unexpected at the least and confusing at most, not that the Buffalo Bills are complaining about it.

Buffalo’s first pick didn’t come until the back half of the second round, but they still managed to bring in a first-round talent who was projected to go far before the 54th overall pick. Like Lamb, Epenesa was a pick taken with talent in mind before roster need, but the Iowa defensive end does possess the skill to make an instant impact with the Bills.

Epenesa left the college game before his senior season– but spent the last two years at Iowa wrecking offensive backfields against Big-10 talent. His sophomore year saw the Hawkeyes’ star accumulate 16.5 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks. And while his TFL numbers went down in 2019 to 14.5, he was able to boost his sack total to 11.5. 

For his college efforts, Epenesa was given Second-Team All-American honors by the Associated Press. Someone like him is due to make noise at the NFL level sooner rather than later, and the Bills managed to get him on Day Two.