Orchard Park, N.Y. (WBEN/AP) - The Buffalo Bills addressed their defensive pass-rush and offensive rushing needs with their two picks in the NFL draft Friday night and they rounded out the 2020 draft with a total of seven new plays by the time the drafting was done Saturday afternoon.
"I like what we've added", said Bills General Manager Brandon Beane when all was said and done Saturday.
"Hopefully these players will prove that I know what I'm doing", added Beane as he reflected on a unique draft that was shadowed by the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on draft execution.
Having addressed many of Buffalo’s immediate needs in free agency and with Diggs’ addition, general manager Brandon Beane approached the draft with the objective of targeting the best player available rather than filling a positional roster spot.
And yet, both additions did fill depth needs for Buffalo.
Upgrading the pass rush was considered a partial need for Buffalo, given that returning starters Jerry Hughes and Trent Murphy will both be 30 or older before the end of this year.
Listed at 6-foot-5 and 275 pounds, Epenesa was a three-year starter at Iowa, and joins a Bills defense that lost backup pass-rusher Shaq Lawson in free agency last month. The Bills did address Lawson’s departure by signing Mario Addison in free agency.
A scouting report posted on NFL.com referred to Epenesa as having “average instincts against the run, and is a step slow to shed, but he’s strong at the point and does his job.” He was also noted for having a strong bull rush. Overall, he had 26 1/2 sacks and forced nine fumbles in 37 career games.
Epenesa, who struggled at the NFL Combine, but was a force in Iowa’s defense the last three years, leading the Big Ten in sacks his sophomore season and put up equally impressive numbers as a starter this past year as a junior.
Here’s the rundown on Epenesa:
Measurables: 6’5”/275
School: Iowa
2019 Stats: 49 tackles, 14 TFL, 11.5 sacks, 3 PD, 4 FF
Accolades: 2019 Holiday Bowl Defensive MVP; second-team AP All-American (2019); first-team All-Big Ten (2019); second-team All-Big Ten (2018); Big Ten Conference All-Freshman Team (2017)
Strengths:
• Combination of length and power• Excellent variety of pass rush moves, especially push-pull• Strong hands that can disrupt tackles• Inside/outside rush versatility
Weaknesses:
• Lacks burst or bend around the edge• Slow to change direction, lateral mobility• Would not fit well in a 3-4 base if asked to stand up on the edge; lacks hip mobility to play in space; better suited for 4-3 base
The continuity has led to a belief of the Bills being in a prime position to challenge the New England Patriots for the AFC East title this season. The Patriots, who have won 11 straight division titles and 17 of the past 19, are suddenly in flux with quarterback Tom Brady leaving for Tampa Bay.
Beane certainly appears to be taking an all-in approach, given his bold move to acquire Diggs and address what he considered the team’s biggest offseason priority. Diggs provides the Josh Allen-led offense a trio of proven receivers, rounded out by John Brown and Cole Beasley.
Beane spent free agency shoring up needs on a defense that’s been among the NFL’s stingiest over the past two years. The Bills allowed the third-fewest yards in the league last season, a year after ranking second.
Buffalo’s additions also included defensive tackle Vernon Butler, linebacker A.J. Klein and cornerback Josh Norman after losing only two regulars in free agency – Lawson and Jordan Phillips – and with linebacker Lorenzo Alexander choosing to retire.
The offense remains the team’s most pressing concern. It’s a unit that finished 24th among NFL teams in yards gained, 26th in yards passing and 23rd in points. Buffalo scored 20 or fewer points 11 times last season, including a 22-19 overtime wild-card loss at Houston.
The playoff loss to the Texans stung in how Buffalo blew a 16-0 third-quarter lead.
Though the defense was unable to hold the Texans in check, Beane placed most of the blame on Allen and the offense, which squandered numerous scoring opportunities in the second half and overtime.