The 2025 NFL Draft is right around the corner, and mock drafts are being published daily. Tennessee football EDGE rusher James Pearce Jr. has dropped down the board in mock drafts since being projected as a consistent top-five last spring.
Pearce was consistent for Tennessee this year but drew more attention from opponents, knowing he was on pace to be a top-five draft pick. As a result, his performance wasn't shown through sack numbers in 2024, but he was still very productive.
He was so productive that he is the only EDGE rusher among his peers in the 2025 draft who has put together a pass rush pressure rate of over 20% in the past two seasons.
James Pearce Jr. is the only EDGE in the 2025 NFL Draft with back to back seasons with a pass rush pressure rate over 20%.
— Travis May (@FF_TravisM) February 15, 2025
He was the assumed EDGE1 for quite some time until late last fall, and should still be right up there. https://t.co/uH7u4vorVP
Pearce's win rate on pass attempts is higher than Abdul Carter's, so it makes no sense why Pearce is dropping on draft boards while Carter is being considered a top-three pick.
Statistically, he looks like he could be a better pass rusher than Chase Young, Chop Robinson, and Myles Garrett, who were all top picks in their draft classes.
Pro Football Focus gives Pearce an overall grade of 87.1 from the 2024 season, while Carter has 91.2. What separates Pearce and Carter is their 2023 grades. Pearce received a 90.4 grade, and Carter received a 69.7.
While both players will do great in the NFL, Pearce is coming into the draft completely underrated. If NFL franchises allow him to fall towards the end of the first round or the second round, they are losing out on a day-one starter and impact player to add to their defense.
Teams looking to revamp their pass rush and pressure could draft Pearce and receive elite production. The 2025 NFL Draft is on Thursday, April 24, and runs through Saturday, April 26.