2020 NFL Mock Draft: Colts luck into new quarterback, Dolphins start future

The New York Jets added a monster on their defensive line in the 2019 NFL Draft when they took Quinnen Williams third overall out of Alabama. He lines up next to Leonard Williams, which gives them one of the nastiest defensive tackle duos in the game.

As good as those two can be together, they’re lacking a stud edge rusher. They had hope that they stumbled across one in the third round as Florida’s Jachai Polite was there for the taking, which was a bit surprising considering he started out the draft process seeming to be a lock to be in the top-20.

Bad interviews at the Scouting Combine hurt his stock and led to a fall, but he didn’t quit slipping there. Polite was released by the Jets and they then had no interest in retaining him via the practice squad once he cleared waivers. Eventually, he was signed to the Seahawks squad and maybe he can turn things around, but it won’t be with New York.

Instead, the Jets address the position with the sixth pick here as they land A.J. Epenesa out of Iowa. Listed at 6-foot-6 and 280-pounds, Epenesa is strong off the edge and knows how to get after the quarterback. As a sophomore, he had 37 tackles and 10.5 sacks.

He got off to a slow start with just one tackle for the Hawkeyes this past weekend, but there’s no reason to think that will continue. As long as it doesn’t, he will find himself on the podium with the commissioner very early during the draft next spring.