5 Takeaways from Mel Kiper, Jr.'s Pre-Draft Conference Call

[Viktor]

2. Evaluating Epenesa


Kiper beefed up the Vikings defensive line at pick No. 25 with Epenesa, who measured at 6-foot-5 and 275 pounds at the combine.


Kiper believes the Iowa defensive end can move around in the trenches, primarily on passing downs.


"In terms of Epenesa, he dropped a bit with that 40 time [of 5.04 seconds]," Kiper said. "The good thing about Epenesa is that you can kick him inside. On third down, he can be an inside guy there.


"He has great versatility, great production against pretty good offensive tackles late in the year. Austin Jackson, he dominated, from USC [in the Holiday Bowl]," Kiper added. "I think he's a late 1, early 2 at worst. I think he'd be a real good fit of Minnesota. They lose Everson Griffen in free agency. They pick at 25, and that's where I have him going. I'd say, at worst, an early second."


Epenesa recorded 26.5 sacks and 36.5 tackles for loss in 39 career games for the Hawkeyes. He had back-to-back, double-digit sack campaigns in 2018 and 2019 and also forced nine fumbles in his college career.


3. Offensive line observations | By Lindsey Young


Kiper talked about a handful of offensive tackles during his call, including Iowa Hawkeyes standout Tristan Wirfs, who impressed in multiple timing and testing drills at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.


Kiper projected Wirfs to the Cardinals at No. 8 overall and called him "a right tackle who played two games at left tackle and did a pretty good job."


He also looked at Andrew Thomas out of Georgia, identifying him as the second-best left tackle in this year's draft that could be an option for teams needing someone on that side.


Another name that Kiper evaluated was Cleveland, whom he mocked to the Titans at No. 29. At the combine, Cleveland ranked third among offensive linemen in the 40-yard dash (4.93 seconds) and fifth in the bench press (30 reps). He topped the position group in the 3-cone drill with a time of 7.26 seconds.


"Cleveland had a great combine on the heels of a really good career as a left tackle," said Kiper. "I think you look at Cleveland as a guy who's moved up. I think he's [a late first-round option]; I think at worst, he's an early second. Right now when you stack the offensive tackles on the board, he's moved up to the point where he's the sixth guy.


"That puts him in the late first, ahead of Austin Jackson from USC and ahead of Isaiah Wilson from Georgia," Kiper added.