Los Angeles Rams 2020 NFL Draft No Trade – Mock Draft 1.2

Round 2 pick 57: DE A.J. Epenesa

Remember when I said some picks are “wishful thinking?” Meet defensive end A.J. Epenesa from Iowa. He’s big, strong, and he’ll make sure the guy blocking him knows it. He has great use of his hands. He is all of  6-foot-6 and 280-pounds which makes his bull rush phenomenal. Epenesa has the ability to punish an offense if left unblocked as he has laid a couple of big hits. Simply put, the kid is a bully.

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Epenesa also has the ability to play any position on the defensive line even though he primarily plays at defensive end. Statistically, he’s been great ever since his sophomore year having 10 sacks or more and at least 4 forced fumbles. He has great instincts.

There are plays where he will just swipe at a quarterback’s hand as its cocking back to cause a fumble. Because of that, it is not hard to see him wreak havoc in the pros, especially if he’s next to Donald.

Unfortunately for him, there are two things that could make him fall, a bad combine, and the eventual run on wide receivers that are bound to happen in this draft. Some players can’t translate their on-field play into a good combine performance. For that reason, it is easy to believe the combine was a fluke indicator for him. Will he fall to 57? Probably not. Could I change him and Taylor to get both? Maybe, but Taylor is more important for the team. Even so, crazier things have happened in the draft.