Showcasing his size, strength and natural power, Epenesa burst off the right edge, not falling for a fake handoff on a read-option. In an instant, a loud smack is heard and the quarterback is driven to the ground.
That quarterback? Buffalo’s very own Josh Allen.
“Probably should’ve handed that off,” guard Jon Feliciano tweeted after Epenesa was selected 54th overall by the Bills and that play went viral.
“I was playing the long game, wanted him to be a Bill,” Allen swiftly replied.
Allen got his wish, as did general manager Brandon Beane — who, like many others, had Epenesa rated much higher than where he ultimately fell. Pro Football Focus ranked Epenesa 20th overall, which would have put him in contention to be Buffalo’s first-round pick had the Bills not used it to acquire Stefon Diggs. ESPN ranked Epenesa 32nd overall. Sports Illustrated had him at No. 24.
“You’ve seen his production. Without asking the question, I don’t know exactly why he fell,” Beane said. “I assume he fell because his 40 time. Some people knocked him a little bit on that, but you know how I care about that stuff. I’m looking for football players and he’s a damn good football player.”
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Denne historien er fra June-July 2020-utgaven av Bills Digest.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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TRACKING TRAINING CAMP
Bills Digest was there for all the big moments at training camp. Here are some observations …
‘We're constantly trying to evolve'
For more on what’s happening within Buffalo’s offense, here are some highlights from offensive coordinator Brian Daboll’s recent press conferences.
‘On the field you must flip that switch'
Here are some highlights from head coach Sean McDermott’s recent press conferences.
ALLEN GETS HISTORIC DEAL
Bills QB now under contract through 2028
Right back in the swing of things
It’s fair to say that this year’s Bills training camp looks wildly different from those of the past.
1st & Ten with STEFON DIGGS
Stefon Diggs had one of the best seasons ever by a Bills receiver in 2020, and he’s looking for an encore. Diggs was clearly amped up and ready to go as the Bills began their preparations for the new season, leading the huddle and supporting his teammates as they kicked off training camp in Orchard Park. Diggs recently touched on his goals for the upcoming season for both himself and the team in an informative discussion with members of the media. Here are the highlights from that discussion.
RUNNING BACKS: TOP AVAILABLE FREE AGENTS
Aaron Jones, Packers 5-9 • 208 pounds • 27 years old A fifth-round steal in the 2017 draft out of UTEP, Jones is equally proficient in the running and passing games. He rushed for more than 1,000 yards the last two years, and caught 49 and 47 passes, respectively. He’s also a touchdown machine with 30 TDs the last two years (25 rushing and 5 receiving). The son of two career Army officers, he’s a tough, driven player and the kind of guy players want on their team.
THE RIGHT STUFF?
Keeping two important starters is a priority as the right side of the O-line hits free agency
QUARTERBACKS: TOP AVAILABLE FREE AGENTS
Dak Prescott, Cowboys 6-2 • 235 pounds • 27 years old A solid starter who has a nice TD-INT ratio over his first five seasons (104-40), Prescott is an accurate thrower and very mobile. However, he’s coming off a compound fracture and dislocation of his right ankle, so it remains to be seen if this will impact his game moving forward.
TIGHT ENDS: TOP AVAILABLE FREE AGENTS
Hunter Henry, Chargers 6-5 • 250 pounds • 29 years old A very talented player, Henry has had issues staying healthy, unable to complete an NFL season, including missing the entire 2018 season with a torn ACL. But when healthy, he’s a terrific all-around tight end who really connected with Justin Herbert in 2020 with 60 catches. Henry is very good at finding holes in zone coverage.
