2020 NFL Draft: 5 First-round locks being slept on

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CHAMPAIGN, IL – NOVEMBER 17: AJ Bush #1 of the Illinois Fighting Illini scrambles out of the pocket as A.J. Epenesa #94 of the Iowa Hawkeyes pursues at Memorial Stadium on November 17, 2018 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

1. A.J. Epenesa, EDGE, Iowa

We all know what a beast Chase Young is. However, Iowa has what The Draft Network’s Benjamin Solak described as a “creature out of the lagoon” leading the charge on defense: A.J. Epenesa. While he doesn’t have the eye-popping statistics as some of the other defensive ends in the class, he’s an elite talent who has dominated in his own right.

In 12 games of the 2019 season, Epenesa has 12.5 tackles for loss and nine sacks thanks to his ability to win at the point of attack with strong hands and a powerful punch. The 6-6, 280-pound edge rusher is a plug-and-play power rush that can set the edge for any team.

While he does play with power he’s not limited to just playing that way as his athleticism jumps off the screen. Although he won’t get confused with a bendy edge guy, he has enough flexibility to dip and bend around the edge.

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Because of his length, he’s fit for any scheme, especially those that run a hybrid. 4-3 teams will line him up as a base end while 3-4 teams can play him at the five-technique. Creative coordinators may kick him inside at times to maximize his ability to get to the quarterback. Epenesa is a player who could go somewhere in the top 10 of the 2020 NFL Draft.

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