Is first-round Iowa edge prospect A.J. Epenesa more valuable at DT?

A first-round edge prospect is seeing his NFL draft stock steadily rise after a relatively slow start to his season.

Iowa defensive end A.J. Epenesa (6-foot-6, 280 pounds) had 2.5 sacks last week in the team’s upset win over previously unbeaten Minnesota, giving him 7 sacks for the season. Epenesa also has 26 tackles, 7 tackles for loss and 2 forced fumbles.

However, six of his sacks have come in his last six games, something Pro Football Focus took notice of. PFF listed Epenesa in its latest stock up report, adding that his 90.4 pass-rushing grade is the highest among all Power 5 edge defenders.

https://twitter.com/CFBLive247/status/1197215455578120192

Much of Epenesa’s damage against Minnesota came from the inside, including a crucial sack.

Chris Trapasso, NFL draft analyst for CBS Sports, said on his latest podcast that he thinks Epenesa might have more success at the next level as a defensive tackle.

“… That’s how I think he’s going to  have to kind of sell himself to NFL teams, kind of that J.J. Watt, Taven Bryan mold,” Trapasso said. “He’s not just an edge rusher, he has the strength and the size to not get physically overpowered on the inside against those wider, stronger guards.”

Trapasso said Epenesa is “pretty good” for his size at winning with his speed and dip around the edge. However, NFL tackles likely won’t be overly concerned “… by his burst, his quickness, his ability to flatten.

“But inside? If he can bull-rush guards — he’s got a really good pull and push move that he used a few times against Minnesota to get into the offensive backfield – I think that’s how he’ll really tap into his full potential once he reaches the pro level,” Trapasso said.