Tennessee edge rusher James Pearce lands with a couple of former Vols in latest 2025 NFL mock draft
The latest 2025 NFL mock draft from The Athletic has Tennessee Vols edge rusher James Pearce joining a couple of former UT players in the NFL. Pearce, who is currently a junior, is expected to declare for the 2025 NFL Draft after the 2024 season. The Athletic's Nick Baumgardner has the New Orleans Saints selecting […]
The latest 2025 NFL mock draft from The Athletic has Tennessee Vols edge rusher James Pearce joining a couple of former UT players in the NFL.
Pearce, who is currently a junior, is expected to declare for the 2025 NFL Draft after the 2024 season.
The Athletic's Nick Baumgardner has the New Orleans Saints selecting Pearce with the No. 10 overall pick in next spring's draft.
From The Athletic: This still feels too early for OT2, at least in this class, and that’s even if Kelvin Banks Jr. potentially could help New Orleans fill a need at guard. Michigan CB Will Johnson would fill a need for the Saints, too — though Johnson, who missed most of his junior year with various injuries, could slide in Round 1.
Pearce is another player with an opportunity to make money for himself in the upcoming Playoff. How players perform against the best of the best goes a lot further than anything else they’ve done, fair or not.
Pearce is going to be a little light for some teams, but his gas off the edge is undeniable.
Former Vols running back Alvin Kamara and former Tennessee cornerback Alontae Taylor currently play for the Saints (Pearce wasn't teammates with either player during his time in Knoxville, but Taylor was a member of the UT football team when Pearce was being recruited to Tennessee).
Pearce received some hype as the potential No. 1 overall selection in mock drafts last summer. But for now, and this could change depending on what happens at the draft combine and Pro Days in the spring, it looks Pearce is more likely to be selected in the No. 5 to No. 15 range in the first round.
Rich Eisen calls out Ohio State fans for complaining about playoff matchup against the Tennessee Vols
Rich Eisen didn’t hold back
