This Jaguars fan likes A.J. Espenesa from Iowa

The Jacksonville Jaguars will more than likely be in the market for a pass rusher in the Draft. Iowa’s A.J. Epenesa could fill that role.

The Jacksonville Jaguars need a defensive end/edge rusher and A.J. Epenesa is a player who we could pick up late in the first round or early in the second to help a growing need on this defense.

Epenesa is my fourth-rated defensive end in the 2020 draft.  However, once you get past Chase Young the other three are similar in their stats, draft grades, physical ability, and draft placement. In fact, all three are expected to be drafted in rounds 1-2. My take is you can’t go wrong with any of these DE/Edge prospects. So let’s take a look at Epenesa.

Epenesa is an impressive athlete. He was a three-time High School All American and first team All State in football. He also played basketball and was a champion discus thrower. It has been said that athletes who play more than one sport in high school are more successful in the pros. He played his college ball at Iowa. Epenesa is 6’ 6” tall and weighs 275 pounds. He ran a 5.04 40-yard dash. He made 49 tackles, 14.5 tackles for a loss, 11.5 sacks, and forced 4 fumbles in 2019.  He was selected to the 1st team All Big Ten for two years.

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His Combine grade was 6.35 which projects him to be a starter within the first two seasons.  He is compared to NFL defensive end Carlos Dunlap. Numerous pundits say that he had a very disappointing combine performance.  He was reported to look stiff and sluggish during his workouts.

"Per Walter Football, “In the pass rush, Epenesa flashes ability to get after the quarterback. He has a strong bull rush and can ride tackles straight back into the signal-caller. With his strong hands, Epenesa also is dangerous to grab a hold of the tackle and then toss them to the side to get free of his blocker. Once he gets free, Epenesa has a burst to close on the quarterback.”"

The Jacksonville Jaguars need someone off the edge especially if both Calais Campbell and Yannick Ngakoue will play for other teams next season. Josh Allen cannot do the job alone. There is a belief Epenesa should line up against the right tackle.

Despite his “unimpressive” Combine, he obtained high praise from those who played against him in college. In a series of spotlight profiles reported by Bleacher Report. Michigan tackle Jon Runyon said he was tied with Chase Young as two of the toughest defenders he ever faced.

There are some very good players that will make an impact in the NFL in the future. The Jacksonville Jaguars defensive line has one starter and several part timers returning.  This team needs help. As stated by me and others many times, football games are won and lost in the trenches.