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2020 NFL Draft · Rd 2, Pick 22 · #54 overall

A.J. Epenesa Iowa Draft

A.J. Epenesa was drafted No. 54 overall by the Buffalo Bills in the 2020 NFL Draft out of Iowa. 91 regular-season games · 1 seasons as a starter · 18 career approximate value

Overall pick
#54
Round
2
Draft class
2020
NFL games
91
Years as starter
1
Career AV
1853rd at Iowa

The pick

How A.J. Epenesa came off the board in 2020.

Drafted by

Buffalo Bills

Rd 2, Pick 22 · #54 overall · AFC East

Full 2020 draft class (255 picks)
Position
Defensive end DE
College
Iowa Big Ten at the draft
Measurables
6'5" · 275 lbs
Hometown
Glen Carbon, IL
Pre-draft board
No. 32 prospect87.0 grade
Side of the ball
Defense

NFL career

91 regular-season games · 1 seasons as a starter · 18 career approximate value

Games played
91
Seasons as a starter
1
Career approximate value
1853rd among Iowa picks
AV with the drafting club
18100% of career value
Final season
20255 years after the draft

Around pick 54

Who came off the board on either side of A.J. Epenesa.

#52 Cam Akers RB · LAR Florida State #53 Jalen Hurts QB · PHI Oklahoma · 3× Pro Bowl #55 J.K. Dobbins RB · BAL Ohio State #56 Raekwon Davis DT · MIA Alabama

Iowa in the 2020 draft

Teammates who went in the same class.

#13 Tristan Wirfs T · TB Iowa · 2× All-Pro · 5× Pro Bowl #77 Michael Ojemudia CB · DEN Iowa #219 Geno Stone S · BAL Iowa #244 Nate Stanley QB · MIN Iowa

Other DE picks from Iowa

The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.

#156 Aaron Kampman DE · GB · 2002 Iowa · 2× Pro Bowl #59 Jonathan Babineaux DE · ATL · 2005 Iowa #46 Matt Roth DE · MIA · 2005 Iowa #20 Adrian Clayborn DE · TB · 2011 Iowa #70 Jared DeVries DE · DET · 1999 Iowa #107 Anthony Nelson DE · TB · 2019 Iowa

About this draft profile

Last updated Aug 24, 2026

A.J. Epenesa in the 2020 NFL Draft

A.J. Epenesa is a Defensive end out of Iowa selected No. 54 overall by the Buffalo Bills in the 2020 NFL Draft. 91 regular-season games · 1 seasons as a starter · 18 career approximate value Iowa has produced 164 NFL draft picks since 1980.

Where this data comes from

Pick order and career outcomes come from the nflverse draft archive; position, measurables, and conference at the time of the draft come from the college feed. Career columns stay empty until a player logs regular-season snaps.

Keep exploring

Frequently asked questions

Where was A.J. Epenesa drafted?

A.J. Epenesa was selected No. 54 overall by the Buffalo Bills in the 2020 NFL Draft (Rd 2, Pick 22). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/2020/a-j-epenesa.

What college did A.J. Epenesa play for?

A.J. Epenesa played college football at Iowa in the Big Ten. See every Iowa draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/iowa-hawkeyes.

How did A.J. Epenesa's NFL career turn out?

91 regular-season games · 1 seasons as a starter · 18 career approximate value Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/2020/a-j-epenesa.