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ESPN analyst moves James Pearce up in first round of final NFL mock draft

IMG_3593by:Grant Ramey•04/24/25•

GrantRamey

James-Pearce

The NFL Draft stock of James Pearce seems to be growing entering Thursday’s night’s first round. ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller now has the Tennessee edge rusher projected to be picked at No. 15 overall by the Atlanta Falcons.

“There was a debate between sources this week about whom the Falcons will target,” Miller wrote in his final ESPN NFL mock draft Wednesday afternoon, “but they all expect a pass rusher to be the pick. 

“Though Marshall’s Mike Green and Texas A&M’s Shemar Stewart were brought up by different scouts, the hottest buzz — which came from the same source who connected Michael Penix Jr. to Atlanta before the 2024 draft — told me to pick Pearce.”

NFL Draft: First Round, Thursday, 8 p.m. ET

The NFL Draft begins Thursday with the first round at 8 p.m. Eastern Time on ESPN and NFL Network. Rounds 2 and 3 will be held Friday night, beginning at 6 p.m. ET, and Rounds 4-7 will take place Saturday afternoon, starting at Noon ET.

Tennessee’s last first-round pick in the NFL Draft was Darnell Wright in 2022, when the offensive tackle was selected at No. 10 overall by the Chicago Bears.

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 with the Vols he had 71 tackles, 30 tackles for loss, 19.5 sacks and one interception returned for a touchdown. 

James Pearce ranked No. 34 overall on Mel Kiper’s NFL Draft Big Board

Earlier this week Pearce was ranked No. 34 overall on Mel Kiper Jr.’s NFL Draft Big Board. Kiper had Pearce ranked No. 5 among outside linebackers.

Kiper’s mock draft had Pearce as a first-round pick, but going at No. 32 overall to the Philadelphia Eagles with the final pick of the opening round. 

“The defending Super Bowl champs lost some key parts of their defense in free agency, including edge rusher Josh Sweat,” Kiper wrote earlier this month. “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%).”

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