Before-the-season 2020 mock draft for Tampa Bay Buccaneers
By Cory Kinnan
1.8: A.J. Epenesa, EDGE, Iowa
With the eight overall pick, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers take Iowa edge rusher A.J. Epenesa and pair him back up with former teammate Anthony Nelson, a fourth round pick of the Bucs in 2019. Epenesa is highly touted as a top rated pass rusher in this year’s draft, lined up with Ohio State’s Chase Young.
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In addition to the potential parting of ways with JPP, Carl Nassib and Shaquil Barrett (both are starting for the Buccaneers in week one) are in the last year of their contracts and could be playing elsewhere in 2020. An addition off of the edge for the Buccaneers is much needed and failing add one could lead to a tumultuous 2020 season.
If Jason Pierre-Paul is heading out of Tampa after this season due to his double-digit million dollar contract and age, then the team will need to add another highly talented edge rusher. Good news for the Bucs, Epenesa is quite talented and has all of the length in the world to wreak havoc off of the edge for years to come in Tampa Bay.
In 2018, Epenesa tallied 10.5 sacks for the Hawkeyes across from current Buc Nelson, and recorded 16.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage. He has 15 total sacks through two collegiate seasons and 22 tackles for loss as well. The Buccaneers have the chance to nab Epenesa here near the end of the top ten of the first round in the 2020 draft and take advantage of that opportunity.