2020 NFL Draft: Ranking the top 10 edge rushers
2. AJ Epenesa- Iowa
Last season, Iowa’s AJ Epensa quietly notched 10.5 sacks while playing a rotational role behind former teammate and current Tampa Bay Buccaneer, Anthony Nelson. Like with Young, expectations were through the roof for Epenesa, however, his first season as a full-time starter hasn’t gone quite the way people thought.
Despite his slow start, Epenesa still offers a great deal at the position. One thing that stands out to me is his potential to be a versatile player in virtually any defensive scheme. Standing at a 6-6 and weighing in at 280 pounds, makes him a viable starting defensive in either a 4-3 or 3-4 type of scheme. Additionally, Epenesa could kick inside and give a team some interior pass rush in sub-packages.
In addition to his versatility, Epenesa’s play on the field is equally special. While he’s doesn’t have the bend that Young has, he does possess strong hands with the make him hard to handle. From the tape I’ve seen, he shows great ability to disengage from blockers and locate the ball carrier. That for me is why he’s the number two edge in the 2020 NFL Draft.
3. Alton Robinson- Syracuse
Every draft season, talent evaluators from your average media scout to guys in the NFL have that one favorite prospect. For me, that guy in the 2020 NFL Draft is Syracuse’s, Alton Robinson. Last year, he and teammate Kendall Coleman combined for 20 sacks yet no one was talking about him. Thankfully, people have started to catch on to Robinson and what he can do on the field.
Like with Young, Robsinson immediately passes the eye test. Standing at 6-4 and weighing in at a listed 256 pounds, he’s a long-framed pass rusher, similar to that of Brian Burns or Montez Sweat. His play on the field is special too, as he can be seen constantly dominating opposing tackles at the point of attack.
Robinson has some very dangerous tools at his disposal, his long frame mixed with his burst makes him one of the most slippery pass rushers in the 2020 NFL Draft.
4. Curtis Weaver- Bosie State
When discussing Curtis Weaver, one thing that seems to come up a lot is his great production over the first few seasons at Bosie State. His freshman season, Weaver racked up 11 sacks, his sophomore season he notched 9. So far in the 2019 campaign, he leads the entire FBS in sacks with 9 and looks to continue to build on that impressive start.
Sure, stats are nice but one needs to back those stats up with the play on the field in order to be ranked this high, the good news is that Weaver can play. Weaver is a glutton for swim moves and rips, as he uses both in tandem to overpower opposing tackles. As one of my favorite players in the class, Weaver is a versatile piece that can play in either a 3-4 or a 4-3 if need be.
If he can somehow replicate the production he is having in college to the NFL, look out because Weaver could be one of the most impactful players from the 2020 NFL Draft.
5. Julian Okwara- Notre Dame
Rounding out the top five we have the Fighting Irish’s Julian Okwara. Some of you, particularly if you are a Detroit Lions fan, may be aware of his older brother Romeo, who went undrafted in the 2016 NFL Draft. While I’m sure someone will mention the relation to his NFL brother, I am here to tell you that Okwara is not his brother.
Okwara is another long, lean pass rusher standing at about 6-4, and weighing in at about 247 pounds. Like some of the previously named players, Okwara has the ideal frame for a starting edge in the pros. On film, his long frame comes in handy when beating opposing tackles, as Okwara probably has some of the best bend in the entire 2020 NFL Draft class.
With added burst to boot, Okwara is one of the most talented defensive prospects in this class and is deserving of more praise. As it stands right now, he could hear his name called fairly early next April.