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What anonymous coaches told The Athletic about James Pearce ahead of the NFL Draft

IMG_3593by: Grant Ramey04/04/25GrantRamey
James Pearce, Tennessee | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
(Kirby Lee-Imagn Images) Feb 26, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Tennessee defensive lineman James Pearce (DL59) during the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center.

Bruce Feldman has Tennessee edge rusher James Pearce as a late first-round pick in the NFL Draft according to his latest mock draft for The Athletic, with Pearce projected to go at No. 29 overall to the Washington Commanders.

“With sack leader Dante Fowler Jr. gone to Dallas,” Feldman wrote, “Washington needs a jolt on the D-line, and the choice here is Pearce over Shemar Stewart, another combine freak. 

“Pearce, at 6-5, 245, is smaller but more productive. His athleticism is elite, as he ran a 4.47 40 with a 1.56 10-yard split. He also broad-jumped 10-3.”

Pearce last season had 7.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss in 13 games, despite having just 0.5 tackles for loss and no sacks through Tennessee’s first three games of the season. 

In three seasons at Tennessee he had 71 tackles, 30 tackles for loss, 19.5 sacks and one interception returned for a touchdown. 

‘He wants no part of setting the edge and stopping the run’

Pearce performed well at the NFL Scouting Combine in February with a 4.47 time in the 40. His 10-yard time of 1.58 was in the 98th percentile. His 40 time was the fastest among defensive ends at the Combine.

Feldman quoted an anonymous Power 4 offensive line coach saying opposing teams felt like they could “neutralize” Pearce last season at Tennessee while an unnamed SEC offensive line coach described him as “one-dimensional.”

“We felt like we could neutralize him with some chips and take him out,” the Power 4 offensive line coach told Feldman. “He wants no part of setting the edge and stopping the run. He reminds me a lot of (former Falcons first-round pick) Vic Beasley.”

“He’s got great get-off,” the SEC offensive line coach told The Athletic, “but I think he’s very one-dimensional.”

Opinions split on James Pearce in two ESPN mock drafts

ESPN’s Field Yates had Pearce off the board at No. 27 overall to the Baltimore Ravens in his two-round mock draft this week. 

“With the Ravens looking for more pass-rush juice, Pearce’s wait ends here,” Yates wrote. “He entered this past season as a potential top-10 pick and has some of the most effortless movement skills of any pass rusher in this class. 

“He ran a 4.47-second 40 and can really bend the edge, too. But his lack of consistency last season resulted in a stock drop. The Ravens could capitalize by landing Pearce and his considerable upside late in the first round.”

Matt Miller’s seven-round mock draft for ESPN had Pearce dropping to the second round, all the way to No. 49 overall. Miller had Dylan Sampson as a third-round pick, Omarr Norman-Lott in the fourth round and Dont’e Thornton and Bru McCoy as fifth-round picks. 

“Pearce was once considered a top-10 overall prospect,” Miller wrote, “but a lack of play strength and a pass-rush plan beyond speed rushes have caused concern around the league. But he has a high immediate ceiling as a pass-rush specialist.”

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