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COLUMBIA, MISSOURI - SEPTEMBER 20: LaNorris Sellers #16 of the South Carolina Gamecocks is tackled by Zion Young #9 of the Missouri Tigers during the third quarter at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium on September 20, 2025 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Jeff Le/Getty Images)
Per NFL Insider Ian Rapaport, former Missouri Tigers defensive end Zion Young had a visit with the Atlanta Falcons on Wednesday after meeting with the Houston Texans earlier this week.
With all the news surrounding James Pearce Jr. and the uncertainty around his status for next year, the Falcons are looking for a replacement to rush the quarterback. Zion Young has very strong measurements at 6-6, 260 pounds, and impressive Pro Day stats (4.75 forty-yard dash), but both of those factors could price the Falcons out of drafting Young because Atlanta doesn’t have its first draft pick until #48 in the second round. That makes finding someone to replicate James Pearce’s production a little harder.
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Where is Zion Young Going to be Drafted?
GettyINDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – FEBRUARY 26: Zion Young of the Missouri Tigers participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 26, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
If the Falcons get the benefit of Zion Young slipping a bit in the NFL Draft, which is three weeks away, Atlanta might have a shot at finding that James Pearce Jr. replacement.
The Falcons still have edge rushing Jalon Walker, who also had a solid rookie season, but the fear among Falcons fans is that he will now be keyed in on by opposing offenses, which may cause a regression.
According to NFL.com’s prospect grade of Zion Young, he has a high chance of becoming a good starter in the league within two years.
Several draft projections have him as a top 25-40 prospect in this year’s draft, which means he could be either a late first-rounder or go sometime in the second round.
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Falcons Might Need Zion Young to Slip If They Want to Draft Him
Per reports from The Athletic, there are various slots where Zion Young could end up being drafted:
“The Athletic’s Nick Baumgardner has Young going 26th overall to Buffalo. His colleague, Dane Brugler, widely regarded in the industry as the most in-depth NFL Draft expert, projected Young to go 41st overall (Round 2-Pick 9) to Cincinnati in his post-Combine two-round Mock Draft.”
Lacking a first-round draft pick might ultimately hurt the Falcons badly here. Sitting at No. 48, things are trending in a positive direction for Zion Young, but that doesn’t bode well for the Falcons.
Which means Atlanta will have to find another solution for their defensive end problem in the wake of the James Pearce situation. No official announcements have been made as legal matters are settled, but one can assume Pearce will, at the very minimum, sit out a handful of games in 2026.
Zion Young
GettyINDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – FEBRUARY 26: Zion Young of the Missouri Tigers participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 26, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
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