Skip to main content
Join Now

Atlanta Falcons select James Pearce in first round of 2025 NFL Draft

FaceProfileby:Thomas Goldkamp•04/24/25
James Pearce, Tennessee Football
KNOXVILLE, TN - September 09, 2023 - Defensive lineman James Pearce Jr. #27 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the game between the Austin Peay Governors and the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Ian Cox/Tennessee Athletics

Tennessee defensive lineman James Pearce has been selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. He was taken with the No. 26 overall pick in the draft after a trade with the Los Angeles Rams.

The talented edge rusher proved during his time at Tennessee that he was one of the best in the country. Pearce played for three seasons before ultimately turning pro.

In his three years, he logged 71 total tackles, 30.0 tackles for a loss, 19.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, an interception, a defensive touchdown and two passes defended.

His best production came as a junior, so it’ll be interesting to see how quickly James Pearce can ramp things back up at the next level. As a senior he recorded 38 tackles, 13.0 tackles for a loss, 7.5 sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a pass defended.

Prior to enrolling at Tennessee, James Pearce was a four-star prospect and the No. 137 overall recruit in the 2022 class, according to the On3 Industry Rankings. He checked in as the No. 16 EDGE prospect in his class and the No. 3 overall player from the state of North Carolina, hailing from Charlotte (NC) Chambers.

What NFL Draft analysts are saying about James Pearce

James Pearce has a unique skill set, well suited to rush the passer off the edge. He showed that time and time again at Tennessee.

Still, there are some questions about overall upside still. The NFL Network’s Lance Zierlein wrote the following in evaluating Pearce as a prospect:

“Pearce is a tight-hipped, linear pass rusher with explosive take-offs and good speed-to-power but a lack of bend to flatten at the top. His high pressure rate is partially derived from an instinctive feel for positioning, allowing him to work around protection for quick wins into the pocket.

“He’s very long but narrow through his hips, so the build-out of his frame might be limited. Pearce knows how to play around blocks and has the speed to close and tackle, but his base is naturally narrow and lacks bend. He’ll need to improve his strength and technique as an NFL run defender. Despite those concerns, Pearce’s length, twitch and rush production create a higher ceiling.”