Tennessee edge defender James Pearce Jr. was widely considered the top edge in a strong defensive line class when the 2024 season started. He was coming off of an SEC-leading 10.0 sack season that also saw him rack up 15 tackles for a loss.
However, he steadily slipped down draft boards over the course of the season when he didn’t quite take the expected step in his development and took a step back in production. Rumors also emerged from the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine that some teams have concerns regarding Pearce’s character.
These are, of course, rumors and we don’t have the resources to substantiate or dispel them here. But it’s worth acknowledging their existence.
So, the question might be whether teams consider him to be a first-round prospect at all.
The New York Giants could be in the market for a pass rusher if they let Azeez Ojulari walk in free agency. Could Pearce be a steal for them if his character checks out?
Prospect: James Pearce Jr. (27)
Games Watched: vs. NC State (2024), vs. Oklahoma (2024), vs. Alabama (2024), vs. Georgia (2024)
Red Flags: (rumored) character concerns
Measurables
Kent Lee Platte | RAS.football
Strengths
Best traits
First step
Overall athleticism
Hand usage
Pass rush
Pearce is a long and athletic edge defender whose speed off the edge allows him to be disruptive as both a run and pass defender.
Pearce has solid length for the position at 6-foot-5 with 32 ¾ inch arms, which he combines with explosiveness and speed for the position. He typically times the snap well and is among the first players moving. He also has impressive linear explosiveness, as evidenced by his 10-foot-3 broad jump and 1.58-second 10-yard split.
While Pearce’s arms are shorter than ideal for an edge defender, he has good enough technique and hand usage to allow him to play longer than he measures. He does a good job of using his own hands to defeat blockers’ hands.
Pearce is a capable run defender despite his frame. He has solid gap discipline and understands how to put his hips in the hole to force cutbacks. Likewise, he generally does a good job of tracking the ball in the backfield and has an instinctive feel for shooting gaps to disrupt the play.
Finally, Pearce is capable of playing off-ball linebacker on occasion. He does a good job of getting depth with his zone drops and is also capable of running with tight ends or running backs in coverage.
He was also used to spy athletic quarterbacks on occasion as well.
Weaknesses
Worst traits
Ankle stiffness
Mass
Strength
There are two primary weaknesses in Pearce’s game, neither of which he can do much about.
The first is that he has a relatively slender frame for an edge defender. While he doesn’t exactly lack play strength, he won’t overpower offensive tackles and his lack of mass can limit his anchor in the run game. He can also struggle to disengage or counter with power if a blocker is ready for his speed off the edge.
Pearce also shows some stiffness in his ankles that limits his ability to carry his speed when turning tight corners. If he’s forced to bend a tight edge, he either has to sacrifice leverage and play higher to maintain his speed or slow down to avoid losing traction.
Game Tape
(Pearce is the Tennessee edge defender wearing No. 27. )
Projection
Pearce Jr. projects as a rotational pass rusher in a multiple defense to start his career. That said, he should be a starter early on, or perhaps even right away in the right situation.
Pearce would likely fit best in a defense that uses “multiple” concepts in their defensive front, which would allow him to rush from a two or three-point stance. He also offers upside to defenses that use more exotic blitz looks, as he can capably drop into coverage to help disguise pressure packages. That could also allow him to attack the A, B, or D gaps, as opposed to just the C-gap, and mitigate the limitations imposed by his (slight) ankle stiffness.
Teams may be hesitant to use Pearce as an every-down player, at least at first, due to his frame and potential limitations defending the run. Pearce needs to be able to attack gaps as a run defender, and could struggle in defenses that seek to “build a fence” along the line of scrimmage. However, his disruptiveness should make him difficult to keep off the field.
Does he fit the Giants?
Yes, pending character concerns
Final Word: A first round talent