James Pearce
Jr.

A blur off the edge, James delivers a jump-scare with his ability, is almost superhuman as tackles barely share a frame with him before he's past them. His Pearce's plays aggressive-ish, hunting quarterbacks and blowing up the run. The 6'5" disruptive, one-man-wrecking crew, teammate Matthew Bergeron said, "I feel like he's going to help us win games."

Nobody on the Tennessee defense got after the quarterback better than Pearce in 2024. Routinely blowing past offensive linemen, he burst into the backfield before they knew what hit them. The DE relentlessly chased down signal-callers and recorded a team-high 7.5 sacks.

Atlanta was thrilled to acquire James Pearce Jr. with the 8th pick. It was a small price to pay for a pass-rusher with two All-SEC selections and a career 32.5 sacks on his college resume.

In Pearce, the Falcons know they're sending someone special off the edge. "He plays like an 'alpha' outside linebacker coach Jacquies Smith said. "He's gritty. He's tough. In the game, he doesn't mind being physical. … He has things that I say you coach. He's one of those players with generational traits."

The Falcons were all-in on Pearce, whose top-notch athletic profile pairs with tremendous ball instincts, and traded up to draft him 26th overall. "If you looked at the best rushers in this draft, you could have made a case that he was the best one from a pure edge element," defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich said.

Winning in the NFL requires distinct advantages, and Atlanta has one with Pearce. "That chess piece that you have with somebody who is that knowledgeable about what's going on around him, combined with that competitiveness, drive and will to win? It's what separates somebody like James," scout Ryan Doyal said.

At 6'5" and 243 lbs., James Pearce Jr. was a small-time recruit who turned into a star at Tennessee. In the 25th pick in the 1st round, the Falcons selected him with two All-SEC honors.

The Falcons expect James to upgrade their pass rush in a big way, which is why they drafted him 26th overall in 2025. While pursuing quarterbacks, Pearce depends on an explosive get-off out of his stance. He thrives at converting a speed move into a power maneuver, as he relies on terrific balance and promising length to navigate around blocks.

Pearce doesn't back down on his mission to get to the quarterback. "He's as prideful as it gets," defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich said. "He wants to come out there and make a strong impression on everybody." With his moves, power and intensity, the impression is made on every snap by the first-rounder.