The conventional wisdom of the Lions’ 2025 draft is that the team will add a pass rusher to supplement an area of the team’s defense that was lacking in 2024.
With the team releasing Za’Darius Smith last week, that seems even more likely to happen. And ESPN’s preeminent draft analyst is in agreement.
Mel Kiper Jr. mocked the Lions to take edge rusher James Pearce Jr. out of Tennessee [with the 28th pick in his latest mock draft](https://go.skimresources.com?id=126006X1587345&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.espn.com%2Fnfl%2Fdraft2025%2Finsider%2Fstory%2F_%2Fid%2F44238000%2F2025-nfl-mock-draft-mel-kiper-first-round-predictions-32-picks-sanders-ward-free-agency), released on Tuesday:
“To get past their playoff hump, having a steadier presence rushing the passer on the other side of Hutchinson is key,” Kiper wrote. “Pearce had just 7.5 sacks in 2024, but his 19% pressure rate was second in the FBS. He keeps offensive tackles guessing with his burst and strength.”
In three seasons with Tennessee, Pearce (6-5, 245 pounds) recorded 19.5 sacks and 75 tackles.
Kiper isn’t the first media member to mock Pearce to the Lions; [Pro Football Focus](https://www.pff.com/news/draft-post-combine-2025-nfl-mock-draft-cam-ward-browns-armand-membou-shemar-stewart) did the same following the NFL combine last month.