Tennessee football standout edge rusher James Pearce Jr was projected to be a top pick in the 2025 NFL Draft this time last year. However, a lot has changed over the past year, as Pearce's draft stock has been dropping since the Fall.
Pearce finished his senior season with 38 tackles, 7.5 sacks, and one forced fumble on the way to an impressive career stat line with 70 tackles, 19 sacks, three forced fumbles, and one interception while on Rocky Top.
While he showed out the past two seasons, his draft stock doesn't show his success. Mel Kiper Jr.'s updated ESPN mock draft has Pearce close to falling out of the first round.
Pearce is currently projected to fall to the Philadelphia Eagles at the No. 32 overall pick, which would be a great landing spot for Pearce, although he should never be projected to go that low.
"The defending Super Bowl champs lost some key parts of their defense in free agency, including edge rusher Josh Sweat," Kiper wrote. "Being able to get after the quarterback is important for Vic Fangio's defense, and there's a glaring void now on the edge.
"There are mixed opinions around the league on whether Pearce is a first-rounder, but he has the traits to develop into a speedy disruptor in the right system. He had 17.5 sacks over the past two seasons and ranked second in the nation in pressure rate last season (19.0%)."
If Pearce falls to the 32nd pick, the Eagles would add another elite pass rusher to their defensive rotation up front, which is something the rest of the NFL shouldn't want to see.
It would be a great landing spot for Pearce, though, and would likely set up the Eagles for another potential deep run in the playoffs next season.
We will see where Pearce falls in the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft. This year's draft will take place in Green Bay, Wisconsin, from Thursday, April 24, to Saturday, April 26.