A simple stat proves experts wrong who doubted the Atlanta Falcons for making a bold move for former Tennessee EDGE James Pearce, Jr.
The VFL has been one of the biggest impact rookies in the NFL in 2025.
It’s been a fantastic rookie season for current Atlanta Falcons edge rusher and former Tennessee standout James Pearce, Jr.
Despite a forgettable 5-9 record, Pearce has turned things on over the last six weeks and should be a prime candidate for the league’s Defensive Rookie of the Year award. Pearce has been disruptive, but even more notably, he’s been racking up the sacks. Through 14 games, he has 8 sacks and is within striking distance of finishing the season with double digit sacks.
Naturally, the question is: how well does that stack up with his rookie peers? Far and away the best, as it turns out. According to Pro Football Focus, his 8 sacks clears all other rookie defenders by leaps and bounds, with his rookie teammate Jalon Walker coming in second with 5.5.
James Pearce, Jr. proving pundits were mistaken regarding their hesitations about drafting him in the first round
Pearce’s stock was sky high after the 2023 season. Some draft pundits had him projected as high as the first overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft.
However, once the 2024 season played out, many projected him significantly lower, with some even leaving out of their first-round mock draft projections. That was pretty absurd especially considering Pearce had another season with a pressure rate north of 20% for the Vols in 2024.
Questions arose about supposed character concerns during the pre-draft process. However, aside from an arrest during a traffic stop where the charges were dropped less than two weeks later, Pearce managed to keep his nose clean during his time in Knoxville. Pearce was ultimately taken by the Atlanta Falcons in the first round with the 26th overall pick after trading up with the Los Angeles Rams. That was a move that some questioned, as the Falcons had to part with a 2026 first-round pick to pull off the trade.
Now, that move is looking like a genius one by the Falcons. In addition to the 8 sacks, he has totaled 39 pressures in 281 defensive snaps for a strong 13.9% pressure rate, per Pro Football Focus.
Perhaps Pearce – who was the only pass rusher in the 2025 draft to have back-to-back seasons with a 20+% pressure rate – will be a case study for NFL general managers in the future. Sometimes, you ignore the noise and just go with the talent and production.
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