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Top 5 available Steelers prospects heading into day two of the 2020 NFL Draft

By Tommy Jaggi

MOBILE, AL - JANUARY 25: Linebacker Zack Baun #56 from Wisconsin of the North Team during the 2020 Resse's Senior Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium on January 25, 2020 in Mobile, Alabama. The North Team defeated the South Team 34 to 17. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
MOBILE, AL - JANUARY 25: Linebacker Zack Baun #56 from Wisconsin of the North Team during the 2020 Resse's Senior Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium on January 25, 2020 in Mobile, Alabama. The North Team defeated the South Team 34 to 17. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /
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SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 27: Austin Jackson #73 of the USC Trojans blocks A.J. Epenesa #94 of the Iowa Hawkeyes during the second half of the San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl at SDCCU Stadium on December 27, 2019 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 27: Austin Jackson #73 of the USC Trojans blocks A.J. Epenesa #94 of the Iowa Hawkeyes during the second half of the San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl at SDCCU Stadium on December 27, 2019 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

DE/DT A.J. Epenesa, Iowa

My overall rank: 31st

A.J. Epenesa was a player who was talked about as a potential top 10 pick earlier in the draft process. The 21-year old impressed big-time at Iowa – earning 30.5 tackles for a loss, 22.0 sacks, and 8 forced fumbles over his last two seasons. This is a guy the Steelers could get creative with.

Though he may not have the speed to be a full-time edge rusher in the NFL (5.04 40-yard dash a the Combine). He projects as a fantastic athlete if he changes positions. Epenesa already has an incredible frame at 6’5” and 275 pounds with 34.5” arms, and he’s not that different size-wise than Cameron Heyward entering the NFL Draft back in 2011.

If the Steelers could add a little weight to him, Epenesa could be a dominant 5-technique in the NFL who could kick inside to 3-tech and rush the passer on third downs – filling Javon Hargrave’s former role. Epenesa certainly isn’t a nose tackle, but the Steelers covet long, strong, and athletic defensive linemen. He could be a star if Pittsburgh uses him right.

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It’s impossible to say if any of these five players will make it all the way to pick 49 today, and the Steelers probably won’t be willing to jump ahead of any team with limited draft capital. However, if one of these five players were to fall, Pittsburgh should be ready to pounce.

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