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James Pearce Jr. - Edge - Tennessee

It's safe to say we will be out of the Abdul Carter and Mason Graham sweepstakes picking at 11. There's a small chance that either Kelvin Banks, Will Campbell or Will Johnson fall which would be the next most natural picks based on value and need - absolute slam dunks. The 2 most likely options to me that would be the next best choices are Tyler Warren / Malaki Stark (debatable given position value) OR the clear cut next best DL who by draft day will be........ James Pearce Jr.

Pearce Jr. is the closest thing to Brian Burns since Brian Burns entered the NFL. He's a bit on the lean size, incredibly explosive, can bend the edge as well as any edge in the draft, has a wide array of pass rush moves, and leads every pass rush efficiency metric. Outside of Abdul Carter he's the only player in this draft I feel confident about being a 10+ sack per year player. He had 10 sacks last year and stock dropped a bit with 7.5 this year but unlike many of these other guys all of his sacks were against top SEC competition. Biggest reason for his dip was he only played a handful of snaps in 4 games against cupcake teams. Biggest knocks on him would be his weight (243 vs Burns who was 249) and playing a bit too agressive / out of control at times which caused him to miss some tackles on the qb leaving sacks on the table. I don't think his number (27) does him any favors making him look like a DB but those - much like it was for Brian Burns - are fixable and overblown as an edge rusher.

If you look at most draft-niks today they'll have 3 other edges over him (not including Abdul Carter) but IMO the offseason will sort through this....

Mykel Williams - Great athlete but so raw and lacks basic pass rush repertoire - complete boom / bust gamble that's a rd 1 fit for a team with that appetite but rich for pick 11.,

Nic Scourton - A run stuffing DE with limited pass rush ability - laughable to me that he'd even be considered in the top 15 as can see him falling to rd 2

Jalon Walker - Very productive if you're stat watching but so rarely flashes and dominates individually, seems like a high motor chase guy on a great defense which also wouldn't touch in rd 1.

If we can't come away with any of the blue chip guys at positions of need then this is the player I would bet the bank on becoming a blue chip player in the NFL.



[ Edited by 49oz2superbowl on Jan 10, 2025 at 1:24 PM ]
I think he's edge3 and wouldn't be mad at it
Who was that smallish DE for Atlanta a few years back that had a few good years? Thing he had like 15 sacks one year, but was kind of a one trick pony from what I recall

nvm Vic Beasley
[ Edited by Hoovtrain on Jan 10, 2025 at 1:53 PM ]
Originally posted by Hoovtrain:
Who was that smallish DE for Atlanta a few years back that had a few good years? Thing he had like 15 sacks one year, but was kind of a one trick pony from what I recall

Vic Beasley
Originally posted by adrianlesnar:
I think he's edge3 and wouldn't be mad at it

+1
Originally posted by 49oz2superbowl:
It's safe to say we will be out of the Abdul Carter and Mason Graham sweepstakes picking at 11. There's a small chance that either Kelvin Banks, Will Campbell or Will Johnson fall which would be the next most natural picks based on value and need - absolute slam dunks. The 2 most likely options to me that would be the next best choices are Tyler Warren / Malaki Stark (debatable given position value) OR the clear cut next best DL who by draft day will be........ James Pearce Jr.

Pearce Jr. is the closest thing to Brian Burns since Brian Burns entered the NFL. He's a bit on the lean size, incredibly explosive, can bend the edge as well as any edge in the draft, has a wide array of pass rush moves, and leads every pass rush efficiency metric. Outside of Abdul Carter he's the only player in this draft I feel confident about being a 10+ sack per year player. He had 10 sacks last year and stock dropped a bit with 7.5 this year but unlike many of these other guys all of his sacks were against top SEC competition. Biggest reason for his dip was he only played a handful of snaps in 4 games against cupcake teams. Biggest knocks on him would be his weight (243 vs Burns who was 249) and playing a bit too agressive / out of control at times which caused him to miss some tackles on the qb leaving sacks on the table. I don't think his number (27) does him any favors making him look like a DB but those - much like it was for Brian Burns - are fixable and overblown as an edge rusher.

If you look at most draft-niks today they'll have 3 other edges over him (not including Abdul Carter) but IMO the offseason will sort through this....

Mykel Williams - Great athlete but so raw and lacks basic pass rush repertoire - complete boom / bust gamble that's a rd 1 fit for a team with that appetite but rich for pick 11.,

Nic Scourton - A run stuffing DE with limited pass rush ability - laughable to me that he'd even be considered in the top 15 as can see him falling to rd 2

Jalon Walker - Very productive if you're stat watching but so rarely flashes and dominates individually, seems like a high motor chase guy on a great defense which also wouldn't touch in rd 1.

If we can't come away with any of the blue chip guys at positions of need then this is the player I would bet the bank on becoming a blue chip player in the NFL.




Nice write up on Pearce and the other players - thank you! Giving us more to think about. Going to be very interesting to see what the Niners do at #11.
Originally posted by LottDMontanaO:
Originally posted by 49oz2superbowl:
It's safe to say we will be out of the Abdul Carter and Mason Graham sweepstakes picking at 11. There's a small chance that either Kelvin Banks, Will Campbell or Will Johnson fall which would be the next most natural picks based on value and need - absolute slam dunks. The 2 most likely options to me that would be the next best choices are Tyler Warren / Malaki Stark (debatable given position value) OR the clear cut next best DL who by draft day will be........ James Pearce Jr.

Pearce Jr. is the closest thing to Brian Burns since Brian Burns entered the NFL. He's a bit on the lean size, incredibly explosive, can bend the edge as well as any edge in the draft, has a wide array of pass rush moves, and leads every pass rush efficiency metric. Outside of Abdul Carter he's the only player in this draft I feel confident about being a 10+ sack per year player. He had 10 sacks last year and stock dropped a bit with 7.5 this year but unlike many of these other guys all of his sacks were against top SEC competition. Biggest reason for his dip was he only played a handful of snaps in 4 games against cupcake teams. Biggest knocks on him would be his weight (243 vs Burns who was 249) and playing a bit too agressive / out of control at times which caused him to miss some tackles on the qb leaving sacks on the table. I don't think his number (27) does him any favors making him look like a DB but those - much like it was for Brian Burns - are fixable and overblown as an edge rusher.

If you look at most draft-niks today they'll have 3 other edges over him (not including Abdul Carter) but IMO the offseason will sort through this....

Mykel Williams - Great athlete but so raw and lacks basic pass rush repertoire - complete boom / bust gamble that's a rd 1 fit for a team with that appetite but rich for pick 11.,

Nic Scourton - A run stuffing DE with limited pass rush ability - laughable to me that he'd even be considered in the top 15 as can see him falling to rd 2

Jalon Walker - Very productive if you're stat watching but so rarely flashes and dominates individually, seems like a high motor chase guy on a great defense which also wouldn't touch in rd 1.

If we can't come away with any of the blue chip guys at positions of need then this is the player I would bet the bank on becoming a blue chip player in the NFL.




Nice write up on Pearce and the other players - thank you! Giving us more to think about. Going to be very interesting to see what the Niners do at #11.

Out of the potential available pass rushers at 11 this is the guy. He would be a fantastic pick. If not him I am hoping they do a small trade back and grab an additional 2nd. They could reset this team with 3 picks in the first and second with any combination of edge,dline, and oline. Then fill in the rest.
Big Pearce fan. I do have eyes on Mike Green during the Senior Bowl. I can easily see him climbing into the top 15.

Carter, Pearce or Green in round 1 I'd be thrilled with.
Question for anyone who has closely watched Tennessee football over the last few seasons: Is Pearce as good of (or better) a prospect as Byron Young drafted by the Rams?
Originally posted by LottDMontanaO:
Question for anyone who has closely watched Tennessee football over the last few seasons: Is Pearce as good of (or better) a prospect as Byron Young drafted by the Rams?

I liked Byron Young a lot, hated that he went to the Rams but Pearce is definitely the better prospect and should go in round 1, likely top 15 unless something happens from now until draft time.
Originally posted by genus49:
Originally posted by LottDMontanaO:
Question for anyone who has closely watched Tennessee football over the last few seasons: Is Pearce as good of (or better) a prospect as Byron Young drafted by the Rams?

I liked Byron Young a lot, hated that he went to the Rams but Pearce is definitely the better prospect and should go in round 1, likely top 15 unless something happens from now until draft time.

Thanks for the input and good to hear about Pearce! I liked watching Young at Tennessee whenever I could and also didn't like him going to the Rams. If Pearce is a better prospect coming into the NFL (didn't see a lot of him in college), that tells me something and wouldn't mind at all if the Niners drafted him. I see some mocks have him going to the Niners at 11.
Pierce is going to get absolutely destroyed in the run game. Like teams will go out of their way to run to his side.

Yes, he can turn the corner but guys like him go late 1st, 2nd round.

He's a. 3-4 OLB through and through. If he's a base end in a 4-3 he will be a complete liability on base D sets.

As for Mylel Williams, dudes a monster. Kirby Smart rotates all his Dlinemen so none have monster stats. It happened with Travon Walker. It happened with Jalen Carter and others. But all three guys have ELITE traits.

Williams is 6'5, 265 and a Travon Walker clone. He's elite and setting the edge and defending the run. Give him a year to learn behind Leonard Floyd and be a base end and move inside in nickle sets and he will be a 10+ sack guy and a game wrecker just like Travon Walker and his trajectory his first 3 years. I'm just not sure Williams will be available at 11 after the combine.
Originally posted by Sask49erFan:
Pierce is going to get absolutely destroyed in the run game. Like teams will go out of their way to run to his side.

Yes, he can turn the corner but guys like him go late 1st, 2nd round.

He's a. 3-4 OLB through and through. If he's a base end in a 4-3 he will be a complete liability on base D sets.

As for Mylel Williams, dudes a monster. Kirby Smart rotates all his Dlinemen so none have monster stats. It happened with Travon Walker. It happened with Jalen Carter and others. But all three guys have ELITE traits.

Williams is 6'5, 265 and a Travon Walker clone. He's elite and setting the edge and defending the run. Give him a year to learn behind Leonard Floyd and be a base end and move inside in nickle sets and he will be a 10+ sack guy and a game wrecker just like Travon Walker and his trajectory his first 3 years. I'm just not sure Williams will be available at 11 after the combine.

Agree to disagree. I agree his ceiling is likely Travon Walker but he doesn't have the same explosiveness / twitch that popped off on tape for Walker.

As for JPJ against the run, I think the flaws you're describing are more accurate for Mike Green (who I also happen to love but will likely fall in the first for that reason). JPJ is light and maybe not his overall strength but he's legit bull rushing big boy Alabama OT's all game, meaning he has the ability to set the edge. I think he was inconsistent doing so at times because of that over aggressive tendency I mentioned above which can cause you to give up your base playing pass /overshoot the lane / miss tackles.
I know Carter is heralded as the top Edge rusher in the draft, so how much of drop off is there between Carter and Pearce?
I think this is the guy i want at 11 if we go edge. First year just let him be a pass rush specialist. See if he can bulk up in year 2-3 to become a every down player.
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