ESPN predicts James Pearce's sack total in rookie season with Atlanta Falcons
ESPN predicts James Pearce will have 5.0 sacks in his rookie season with the Atlanta Falcons, tied for fourth most among rookies and just one behind the leaders, Abdul Carter, Mykel Williams and Jalon Walker.
Walker, Pearce’s new teammate in Atlanta, was the No. 15 overall in the first round of the NFL Draft in April. The Falcons traded back into the first round to select Pearce at No. 26 overall.
Carter was the No. 3 overall pick by the New York Giants and Williams went at No. 11 overall to the San Francisco 49ers.
Pearce was the fourth edge taken in the first round. ESPN’s Mike Clay also predicted Shemar Stewart — the No. 17 overall pick to the Cincinnati Bengals — to also finish with 5.0 sacks this season.
“Walker and Pearce,” Clay wrote, “will quickly slide into a Falcons pass rush that finished with the second-fewest sacks in 2024 (31).”
Pearce, the former Tennessee Football star edge rusher, was the highest ranked of the four former Vols picked in April’s NFL Draft.
Defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott was taken in the second round at No. 63 overall to the Kansas City Chiefs. Wide receiver Dont’e Thornton and running back Dylan Sampson were both fourth-round picks, with Thornton going at No. 108 to the Las Vegas Raiders and Sampson going No. 126 overall by the Cleveland Browns. Both Thornton and Sampson signed their rookie contract on Saturday.
James Pearce’s last two seasons: 17.5 sacks, 28 tackles for loss
Pearce had a breakout sophomore season at Tennessee in 2023, finishing with 10.0 sacks, 15 tackles for loss and 28 sacks in 13 games. Last season he had 7.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss in 13 games, finishing strong after having just 0.5 tackles for loss and no sacks through the first three games of the season.
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Over the last two years, Pearce has combined for 17.5 sacks and 28 tackles for loss, with 66 tackles and one interception returned for a touchdown. He played in 39 games in three seasons with the Vols, recording 19.5 sacks, 30 tackles for loss and 71 tackles.
Pearce is Tennessee’s 48th first-round pick in program history. He was a five-star prospect in the 2022 recruiting class, ranked No. 11 overall in the On3 ratings.
James Pearce signed rookie contract worth $16.7 million
Pearce signed his rookie contract with the Atlanta Falcons on May 12. It’s a four-year deal worth $16.7 million, including an $8.8 million signing bonus, according to Spotrac.
The contract runs through the 2028 season and includes a club option for 2029, before Pearce would become an unrestricted free agent in 2030. His base pay will increase from $840,000 to $1,235,000 over the next four seasons, on top of the $8,842,736 signing bonus.
Pearce was the highest pick among Tennessee’s four players selected in last month’s NFL Draft, with the Falcons trading back into the first round to pick him at No. 26.
