James Pearce Jr. — NFL Mock Draft Roundup 1.0

Leading up to the 2025 NFL Draft, we will track where Tennessee Volunteers edge defender James Pearce Jr. appears in the latest NFL mock drafts.

James Pearce Jr. NFL Mock Drafts

Here are some of the latest mock drafts in which Pearce has appeared:

NFL.com — Eric Edholm

No. 29 overall — Washington Commanders

Washington needs as many impact defenders as it can find, and edge rusher is high on the priority list. Pearce is a leggy, loose rusher with some burst.

CBS Sports — Josh Edwards

No. 16 overall — Arizona Cardinals

Arizona had a bottom-10 pressure rate in the league this season, according to TruMedia, and that figure is propped up heavily by a game against the Bears. James Pearce Jr. has great first-step quickness and is explosive off the edge.

NFL.com — Bucky Brooks

No. 16 overall — Arizona Cardinals

A mass exodus of front-seven defenders in free agency could force the Cardinals to replenish this area of the roster early (and often) on draft weekend. Pearce is an explosive athlete with a developing game as a pass-rush specialist.

Yahoo! — Tice/McDonald

No. 29 overall — Washington Commanders

The Commanders front seven was essentially built out of their talented defensive tackles and a bunch of other guns for hire. Pearce's pass rush-first style will actually fit well with Dan Quinn's 120-mph-at-all-times style, but he still needs to work on his consistency in impacting the game.

The Athletic — Baumgardner/Dochterman

No. 8 overall — Carolina Panthers

Pearce flashed All-American-level ability during his tenure with the Vols, but he still has to gain consistency to reach his potential. He's a quick-twitch edge rusher with the ability to get to the quarterback and could drop into coverage, if necessary.

But the Panthers allowed 6.0 yards per play (worst in the NFL) and need someone who can impact the passing game. If Pearce hits the high end of his development, he could become an impact defender in the Danielle Hunter mold.

EDSFootball — Kevin Hanson

No. 15 overall — Atlanta Falcons

Three Atlanta defenders finished with five-plus sacks in 2024 — Arnold Ebiketie (six), Matt Judon (5.5) and Kaden Elliss (five), but they finished 31st in the league in sacks (31). Judon is 32 and an impending free agent. Pearce oozes potential and upside as a pass-rushing specialist, at least, due to his elite burst. He has 17 sacks over the past two seasons.

The 33rd Team — Kyle Crabbs

No. 27 overall — Baltimore Ravens

Baltimore, in this scenario, does what they seemingly always do. The Ravens let the board fall to them and reap the rewards with an explosive pass-rush talent in James Pearce. This is an ideal landing spot for a talent like Pearce, who has undeniable ability as a speed rusher but would benefit from rounding out his resume as a pass rusher. Baltimore has a strong track record of developing talent on the edge and has veterans in place that would prevent him from playing situationally before he's ready.

NFL.com — Daniel Jeremiah

No. 32 overall — Kansas City Chiefs

Some people see Pearce going earlier in Round 1. While there might be a debate about where he'll land in the draft, there's no doubt about his elite speed and production.

ESPN — Mel Kiper

No. 28 overall — Detroit Lions

Even with Aidan Hutchinson (leg) back in the picture next season, Detroit can't let this Super Bowl window slip away because the pass rush doesn't have enough juice. The Lions' 37 sacks tied for 23rd in the NFL this season. They were also 25th in pass rush win rate at 35.4%. Injuries wore down the defense, but there weren't enough playmakers there to begin with, even after the midseason trade for Za'Darius Smith.

Pearce still needs to build out his 6-5 frame, but his speed could make a difference in Detroit. He mixes up pass-rush moves and gets home to the QB, with 17.5 sacks over the past two seasons.

More roundups: NFL Teams | NFL Draft Prospects