10 best draft candidates for Eagles at No. 21 in 2020 following free agency
By Dan Parzych
Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Edge. player. 54. Iowa. A.J. Epenesa. 6
As a freshman in 2017, A.J. Epenesa showed early potential to eventually become a top pass rusher in college football, which turned out to be the case.
The fact that Epenesa’s final two seasons at Iowa consisted of 22 sacks to go along with 30.5 tackles for loss makes it easy to see why the young contender is expected to hear his name called on opening night.
With all of the injuries on the offensive side of the football last season, Philadelphia’s defense stepped up in a big way when the team needed it the most during the final stretch, and will be heavily relied on once in 2020 when seeing how the NFC East is shaping out.
Epenesa may not have the same kind of burst off the edge like some of the other top prospects at the position from this year’s draft class, but he still brings plenty to the table.
A defense like the Eagles can always use additional weapons to help apply the necessary pressure to opposing quarterbacks, and one can only imagine what Jim Schwartz’s excitement would be like if Epenesa turned out to be the selection in the first round.
If not, well at least there will be plenty of options for Philadelphia to consider.