Mel Kiper projects Philadelphia Eagles bolster pass rush with former Tennessee Vols sack monster in new 2025 NFL mock draft
There is no telling exactly who the Philadelphia Eagles will turn to with their 32nd overall pick in the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft. However, bolstering their pass rush is one of their glaring needs, which ESPN's Mel Kiper has them addressing in his last 2025 NFL NFL mock draft. Kiper pins former Tennessee Volunteer edge James […]
There is no telling exactly who the Philadelphia Eagles will turn to with their 32nd overall pick in the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft.
However, bolstering their pass rush is one of their glaring needs, which ESPN's Mel Kiper has them addressing in his last 2025 NFL NFL mock draft.
Kiper pins former Tennessee Volunteer edge James Pearce Jr. to the Eagles at No. 32 and explains his reasoning behind the pick:
The defending Super Bowl champs lost some key parts of their defense in free agency, including edge rusher Josh Sweat. Being able to get after the quarterback is important for Vic Fangio's defense, and there's a glaring void now on the edge. There are mixed opinions around the league on whether Pearce is a first-rounder, but he has the traits to develop into a speedy disruptor in the right system. He had 17.5 sacks over the past two seasons and ranked second in the nation in pressure rate last season (19.0%).
Pearce, 6-foot-5, 243-pound, burst onto the college football scene two years ago as one of the most reliable and consistent defenders at Tennesse.
He entered the draft after leading the Vols in sacks (7.5), tackles for loss (13), and QB hurries (10 in 2024). He also added a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. For his outstanding efforts, Pearce earned first-team All-SEC honors and was a semifinalist for the Walter Camp Player of the Year, Bednarik, and Lombardi awards.
In three seasons at Tennessee, Pearce logged 987 career defensive snaps for the Vols, totaling 107 pressures and 19.5 total sacks.
The Eagles could use Pearce's NFL-ready presence after losing sack leader Josh Sweat to the Arizona Cardinals in NFL free agency.
Depending on where you look, Pearce is considered a top-10 pick by some and a later-round pick by others. If he ends up falling out of the top 10 and is still on the board at No. 32, it makes sense for the Eagles to snag him.
