Aj Epenesa
#57 DE · Philadelphia Eagles
2 transactions this offseason
Height
6'6"
Weight
260 lbs
Age
27
College
Iowa
Draft
2020, Rd 2, #54
Experience
6 yrs
DE Rank
#37 / 147
B
D+
B-
N/A
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The Verdict on Aj, in One Read
On the field, Aj Epenesa grades out as a strong DE for Philadelphia Eagles (B- Performance). That places him 37th of 147 graded defensive ends. The money matches the play — the Contract Value Index lands at B, good value. The public read is negative (D+ Sentiment), drawn from current news and social signal rather than the box score.
Career StatsB-
| Year | Team | GP | Sacks | Tkl | TFL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career |  | 91 | 24.0 | 135 | 20 |
| 2025 | | 16 | 2.5 | 32 | 2 |
| 2024 | | 17 | 6.0 | 39 | 10 |
| 2023 | | 15 |
Current Contract
Length
1 year
Total Value
$1.4M
Guaranteed
$688K
AAV
$1.4M/yr
Guaranteed %49%
Contract Value Index (CVI)
B
Good Value
OverpayFair ValueGreat Value
This signing grades out as a slight overpay for the Philadelphia Eagles — the team is getting approximately what they're paying for in on-field production. Aj's on-field performance ranks in the middle of the pack among NFL DEs, grading him as a serviceable starter at the position. His $1.4M average annual value ranks as minimum-level money for the DE market. The production lines up closely with the price tag — serviceable starter production at minimum-level money, which is essentially paying fair market value. Aj is squarely in his prime, which adds to the deal's upside — the team should get multiple productive seasons out of this contract. The 1-year, $1.4M deal ($688K guaranteed, 49%) keeps the commitment short, giving the team financial flexibility to move on if performance drops.
Contracts in the Same Value Band
Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the B band — a quick read on where Aj's contract sits relative to comparable money.
Performance Analysis
B-
#37 of 147 DEs
FCA+
Stacked against the DE field, AJ Epenesa grades out at a B- performance level for Philadelphia. The 27-year-old six-year veteran delivered a credible 2025 season with 32 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and notably two interceptions across all 16 games—a rare interception haul for an edge defender that underscores his versatility and field awareness in coverage situations. His primary limitation is sack production; 2.5 sacks ranks as a modest tally for a full-season starter and signals he's operating as a rotational contributor rather than a dominant pass-rush threat. The durability is there—a full 16-game slate demonstrates reliability—but the tackle volume and sack rate suggest he's splitting snaps and operating in a complementary role within the defensive scheme. Philadelphia's recent signing of him reflects the media narrative perfectly: veteran depth insurance from a defender who has proven NFL-relevant over six seasons despite never reaching All-Pro or Pro Bowl status. The Eagles are betting on his consistency and positional flexibility as a stabilizing rotational option in their defensive end rotation, not an impact starter.
Performance vs. NFL Position Average
Sacks/Game0.16
Below AvgNFL Avg: 0.19 · Elite: 0.66
TFL/Game0.13
How Aj Compares at the Position
Aj Epenesa ranks 37th of 147 graded defensive ends by performance. That slots Aj between Brandon Graham (B-) just ahead and Dayo Odeyingbo (B-) just behind.
Graded higher
Brandon GrahamPhiladelphia EaglesB-Derek BarnettFree AgentB-Joseph OssaiNew York JetsB-Aj EpenesaB-
Graded lower
Dayo OdeyingboChicago BearsFan Sentiment
D+
Negative
NegativeNeutralPositive
Epenesa signing represents a low-cost depth gamble on defensive line youth. Multiple outlets covered the move, noting his three-month free agency limbo after Cleveland's hesitation. The fact that Browns backed away signals concern about his consistency or fit. Eagles fans view this as a cheap lottery ticket for rotation snaps. Philadelphia likely hopes development and opportunity unlock untapped pass-rush potential this season.
📰5 news
Transaction History
B
B
SigningJun 11, 2026
Philadelphia Eagles sign A.J. Epenesa
1 yr / $1.4M ($688K gtd)
B
B
SigningJun 10, 2026
Philadelphia Eagles sign DE A.J. Epenesa
1 yr / $1.4M ($688K gtd)
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About this player
Aj Epenesa is a player in his 6th NFL season listed at DE for the Philadelphia Eagles. FanVerdicts covers every NFL player, team, GM, and transaction — and puts your verdict on all of it. Sign in to cast your Fan Verdict on Aj Epenesa, see where the crowd lands, and argue the call. FanVerdicts also brings its own read — performance, sentiment, and Contract Value Index — as one honest input alongside the crowd's. Where FanVerdicts has weighed in so far: Contract Value Index B, Performance B-, Sentiment D+.
The crowd's Fan Verdict moves in real time as fans vote on this profile. FanVerdicts' own read updates as new data lands — performance recalculates when NFL game stats post, sentiment shifts with media coverage and fan discussion, and the Contract Value Index recomputes when contract terms change. Contract details below show the structure (years, total value, average annual value, guarantees) behind the Contract Value Index read.
For league-wide context, the NFL hub has team rankings, GM report cards, the transactions feed, and live scoreboards. The NFL player rankings page sorts every active player by performance and contract value within their position.