Arizona Cardinals 2020 NFL Draft: Complete 7-round mock draft
Hawkeyes . A.J. Epenesa. 1. player. 878. . DE
With both top-tier offensive tackles off of the board (Andrew Thomas and Tristan Wirfs), this pick came down to two players, Alabama wide receiver Jerry Jeudy and Iowa defensive end A.J. Epenesa. Jeudy is an absolute stud who would undoubtedly be a fantastic fit in the Arizona Cardinals wide-open offense, but for a team who clearly needs help on the defensive side of the ball, I could not pass up a 2020 NFL Draft prospect the caliber of Epenesa.
Epenesa has a rare combination of power and athleticism on the defensive line. He gets off of the ball quickly and can absolutely dominate with strength at the point of attack. He is a strong run defender who understands his responsibilities well and does a nice job of controlling the opposing offensive lineman and taking care of his gaps.
Epenesa is undoubtedly a power-based player who can dominate in the bull rush but do not sleep on his quickness and burst off of the edge. This guy can explode off of the ball and bend around the edge. He also shows a nice variety of both speed and power pass-rush moves.
As an extremely well-rounded defensive lineman, Epenesa would pair tremendously with Chandler Jones for the Arizona Cardinals up front. They would probably rather find an offensive lineman to protect Murray here, but Epenesa is a fantastic football player who could come in and make an immediate impact.