Get ready for the 2025 NFL Draft with our spotlight on James Pearce Jr. Get the breakdown on his strengths and weaknesses in our scouting report, understand his potential with our draft profile, and see where experts predict he’ll land.
James Pearce Jr.’s NFL Draft Scouting Report
Pearce is an explosive edge rusher with the athleticism and the motor to generate consistent pressure as a pass rusher. He’s shown that his combination of first-step acceleration, counter agility, and speed-to-power allows him to beat NFL-caliber offensive linemen at the point of attack on a consistent basis.
He knows what moves to use against certain offensive linemen, and he executes those moves with precise timing and placement. Though he projects better as a stand-up edge rusher in a 3-4 base defense, Pearce can rush with his hand in the dirt and could fare well in a 4-3 base system if he can add more mass to his frame.
Pearce’s run defense projection is much less clear with his lower early-down usage and below-average proportional length, and teams will have to assess his mindset. But he’s ultimately one of the most prolific pass-rush producers in the class, and his upside is tantalizing.
Looking for more analysis on prospects? Here’s our EDGE scouting reports for the 2025 NFL Draft and all other positions.
James Pearce Jr.’s Latest NFL Draft Projections
PFSN’s Ian Cummings projects Pearce will be drafted at No. 64 overall to the Philadelphia Eagles in his most recent seven-round 2025 NFL Mock Draft.
Cummings said, “There have been whispers about James Pearce Jr.’s coachability, and even then, his run defense profile brings pressing questions,” he wrote. “But if Philadelphia can keep him on the right path, he’s one of the most dynamic pass-rushers in the class.”
Ready to have some fun? Jump into our free NFL Mock Draft Simulator and follow along during the NFL Draft. The simulator will be updated in real-time, allowing you to finish the rest of the draft based on the results.
James Pearce Jr.’s NFL Draft Profile and Measurements
- Height: 6’5″
- Weight: 245 pounds
- Position: EDGE
- School: Tennessee
- Arms: 3268
- Wings: 8078
Where Does James Pearce Jr. Rank Among 2025’s EDGE Prospects?
Here are the top 10 EDGE rankings for the 2025 NFL Draft, according to PFSN Draft Analyst Ian Cummings.
10. James Pearce Jr., Tennessee
9. Oluwafemi Oladejo, UCLA
8. Princely Umanmielen, Ole Miss
7. Bradyn Swinson, LSU
6. Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College
5. Mykel Williams, Georgia
4. Nic Scourton, Texas A&M
3. Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M
2. Mike Green, Marshall
1. Abdul Carter, Penn State
In the preseason, James Pearce Jr. was one of the favorites to be the first EDGE prospect off the board. There’s still a good chance he sneaks into Round 1, but more uncertainty has seeped into Pearce’s evaluation as time has gone on.
No one disputes Pearce’s talent. His 4.47 40-yard dash at 6’5″, 245 pounds is proof of his hyper-elite burst and speed off the edge, and he’s also incredibly twitched-up. He rode those tools to 17.5 sacks and 27.5 tackles for loss over the past two seasons.
Having said all this, Pearce is still mainly a speed-to-power rusher who lacks the hip fluidity to run the arc or levy consistent inside moves. He lacks elite length and mass, and there have been whispers about how coachable he is. Pearce is a true boom-or-bust player.
Want more rankings? Here’s our NFL Draft Big Board for this year’s draft class. You can also make your own with the PFSN Big Board Builder.
James Pearce Jr.’s College Stats
Career:
- Solo Tackles: 44
- Total Tackles: 71
- Tackles For Loss: 30
- Sacks: 19.5
- INTs: 1
- INT TDs: 1
2024:
- Solo Tackles: 23
- Total Tackles: 38
- Tackles For Loss: 13
- Sacks: 7.5