BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — The first pick is in for the Buffalo Bills and they've added a defensive end to kick off their 2020 Draft Class, selecting A.J. Epenesa out of Iowa with the no. 54 overall pick.
Epenesa wasn't expected to be on the board when the Bills hit the clock in the 2nd round so this is a good and unexpected get. He's a well-rounded player that's effective at both stopping the run and getting after an opposing quarterback. He was a play-maker for the Hawkeyes during his career, recording 26.5 sacks and 36 tackles for loss. That included 11.5 sacks, 14 tackles for loss, and four forced fumbles last season.
At 6'5" and 275 pounds, Epenesa can come in and compete for playing time as a rookie, providing some youth at the defensive end position. While he has the size, his speed is a question mark after posting just a 5.04 40 at the NFL Combine. He has the versatility and the power though, so once he gets settled, he should be able to make an impact for an already solid defensive unit.
The Bills are scheduled to select one other player Friday night, holding the 86th overall pick. They then have five picks on Saturday; one in the fourth round, one in the 5th round, two in the 6th round, and one in the 7th round.
