James Pearce Jr. turned heads at the NFL Scouting Combine, but not in the way many expected. The Tennessee edge rusher delivered a blistering 40-yard dash, proving he has the speed to chase down quarterbacks at the next level.
But his vertical jump numbers left scouts scratching their heads, raising concerns about his long-term explosiveness and durability in the NFL. With his NFL Draft stock fluctuating, Pearce’s uneven performance only adds to the intrigue surrounding his pro potential.
Tennessee EDGE James Pearce Jr. Displays Mixed Bag at NFL Draft Combine
While some scouts rave about his athletic upside, others see red flags in his technique and positional fundamentals. Despite posting an elite Relative Athletic Score (RAS), history suggests a weak vertical could impact his NFL longevity.
Could Pearce’s raw speed outweigh concerns about his overall athletic profile, or will his mixed NFL Combine results push him down draft boards?
Pearce’s stock was already dropping before the poor vertical. One NFL GM explained why to Sports Illustrated.
“He doesn’t fight with his hands very well right now. You see the build, and the traits, his arm length, but you see him winning with those traits alone,” the GM said. “He has a hard time right now recognizing pullers, shrinking space and defeating blocks in the run game.”
James Pearce Jr is a confounding prospect
Wins a ton and is a great athlete, but it doesn't really consistently show? He's linearly explosive, but there's some ankle tightness at the top of his rush. High football IQ imo
Here he (#27) is uprooting a tight end to stuff a run: pic.twitter.com/K4lc67XmpI
— Mathias Cubillan (@mathiascubillan) February 25, 2025
Despite the poor vertical, Pearce still posted an elite 9.35 RAS (out of 10.00), ranking 118th among 1,802 defensive ends since 1987. However, history suggests vertical jump correlates with career longevity, and he tested in the 43rd percentile at the drill.
James Pearce Jr. is a DE prospect in the 2025 draft class. He scored an unofficial 9.35 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 118 out of 1802 DE from 1987 to 2025.
Splits projected, Times unofficial.https://t.co/xwtofISHM2 pic.twitter.com/hCb2HUDvKW
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) February 27, 2025
From 2000 to 2022, edge rushers who posted an above-average vertical leap played an average of 77.9 career games, per PFN’s data, while edge rushers who posted a below-average vertical leap averaged 65.2 career games.
Vertical jump measures explosiveness, so there’s a strong correlation between the vertical jump and career length of EDGEs. Among EDGEs to play at least three NFL seasons, 72.8% beat the position average on the vertical jump.
James Pearce Jr.'s poor vertical leap might be a red flag.
From 2000-2022, EDGEs with an above-average vertical played an average of 77.9 career games compared to 65.2 for those with a below-average vertical.
Among EDGEs who played 3+ years, 72.8% had above-average verticals. pic.twitter.com/P74YyFuOTK
— PFSN (@PFN365) February 28, 2025
“If I was his people, I would be disappointed in the loss of money, not being picked that high, but I’d be happy knowing I’m going to a place where I can grow into a long and fruitful NFL career,” the GM added.
Pearce Posts Insane Speed in 40-Yard Dash
Pearce’s performance at the NFL Combine was a mixed bag, but his 40-yard dash could overshadow his lackluster vertical leap. The Tennessee EDGE rusher clocked an official 4.47, an elite time for his position.
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NFL Network highlighted his speed with a simulcam, comparing him to Super Bowl-winning Philadelphia Eagles stars. Pearce ran faster than A.J. Brown (4.49) and Jalen Hurts (4.59) but trailed Saquon Barkley (4.40). While his vertical disappointed, NFL scouts may focus on his burst and acceleration — traits that translate directly to chasing down QBs.
.@JamesPearceJr10 simulcam vs. a few SB champs 🏃♂️💨
📺: #NFLCombine on @NFLNetwork
📱: Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/UHaOR1d8nn— NFL (@NFL) February 27, 2025
Pearce went off the board to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as EDGE No. 5 in PFSN’s latest mock draft. As the Buccaneers have several pass-rushers who could be playing elsewhere in 2025 — including former first-round pick Joe Tryon-Shoyinka — a rookie EDGE could be in their future.