Heading into the 2020 NFL Draft, defensive end A.J. Epenesa was being touted as a possible first round pick for many teams looking for some help on the outside.
However, Epenesa ended up falling through the first round of the draft on Thursday and into the second round on Friday. When the Buffalo Bills came up on the board with the 54th overall pick, the 21-year-old came off the board as Buffalo's first pick of the 2020 draft.
In three years spent with the Hawkeyes in Iowa, the 6-foot-5, 275-pounder led the Big Ten in sacks in 2018 (10.5) and finished third last season (11.5). He ranks sixth all-time in the conference with 26.5 career sacks. Epenesa also finished 10th in the Big Ten with 14 tackles for loss last season.
Analysts have raved about his use of hands as a pass-rusher. He’s more of a bull-rusher than one who relies on speed to get around the edge, but still has a good first step and instincts. He’ll have to learn how to set the edge as a run defender better in the NFL, but the Bills can use him immediately as a situational pass rusher.
Epenesa took some time on Monday to join the Howard and Jeremy Show to give his reaction to being drafted by the Bills, what his interactions were like with the team before the draft and more!
Here is some of what he had to say:
"I'm extremely excited. I'm really excited to start working. I want to be able to meet my new teammates. It kind of sucks that this whole thing [with the coronavirus] is going on, but to be a part of this organization, I'm really excited."
"I didn't have a whole lot. I had a meeting with them at the combine, and I had a couple conversations with [defensive line] coach [Eric] Washington over the phone. Other than that, that really was the extent of it.
"I did really enjoy the phone calls I had with coach Washington. I felt like we were clicking well over the phone. They were just going well, and I enjoyed them."
"I know Buffalo finished as one of the top defenses this past year, and for me to be able to come in and to have veterans to be able to watch and learn from and people like that, it's a good situation for me to be in to learn."
"It was a little disappointing at first. Obviously I had felt differently about the way it should have gone, but I feel like it's just more motivation that I can play with a bigger chip on my shoulder. It shows that 31 other teams passed on me and one team really wanted me. I'm very excited to be a part of this program because this is a team that really wanted me, and I'm ready to work for them."
You can listen to the entire interview below: