ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. doesn't have James Pearce as a first-round pick in NFL Draft
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. doesn’t have Tennessee’s James Pearce as a first-round pick in the NFL Draft. Kiper’s first-round mock draft this week had four outside linebackers getting picked, including Penn State’s Abdul Carter at No. 1 overall.
Kiper has Pearce ranked No. 6 among outside linebackers on his NFL Draft Big Board, behind Carter, Marshall’s Mike Green, Georgia’s Mykell Williams, UCLA’s Oluwafemi Oladejo and Boston College’s Donovan Ezeiruaku.
Green was Kiper’s No. 15 overall pick to the Atlanta Falcons, Williams was the No. 17 pick to the Cincinnati Bengals and Oladejo at No. 28 to the Detroit Lions
James Pearce: 17.5 sacks, 28 TFLs over last two seasons
Pearce last season 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 Tennessee’s first three games of the season.
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.
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“I see a lot of speed off the edge,” Kiper wrote of Pearce in December, “and he does a nice job mixing up his pass-rush moves to keep offensive tackles on their heels.
“Pearce could still add weight to his frame. But even at 243 pounds, he shows the ability to win with power. And when asked to help in run defense, he has the quickness to make plays in lateral pursuit.”
The hype over Pearce’s draft stock peaked in April, when Pro Football Focus named him a possible No. 1 pick. He was coming off a breakout sophomore season in which he had 10.0 sacks, 15 tackles for loss and 28 sacks in 13 games.
NFL.com‘s Combine profile for Pearce has him with a 6.40 grade, which comes with a description of “will become good starter within two years.”
NFL.com Prospect Profile: James Pearce
Lance Zierlein: 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.
