2025 NFL Mock Draft: Atlanta Falcons pick edge rusher

James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee

With the fifteenth pick of the 2025 NFL Draft, the Atlanta Falcons select: Shedeur Sanders James Pearce Jr. The Falcons have fascinated me over the past few years. Rather than go conventional wisdom of finding your franchise QB then building skilled players around him, they went the opposite route. Which (in)famously culminated a year ago by selected Michael Penix Jr.

Having a sophomore QB means I’ve got to pick an OT, right? Well, this class is incredibly weak for Day 1 OTs. Josh Conerly Jr. (CAN WE STOP WITH ALL THESE “JR.”s?!) is not a top-15 player. Although, this draft is incredibly atypical. The first 10 picks ought to be easy enough. The next 25? Who knows. A guy like Pearce could go top-15 or slip to the Birds at 32. Neither scenario would surprise me one bit.

It goes without saying that I evaluated the prospect from his on-field play at Tennessee and his wildly athletic Combine. I.e., I clearly have no idea why teams are taking him off their boards. Hence, I will only really focus on James’ positives. And being a perfect fit to their defense.

Pearce would be so “perfect,” that the Falcons already got his archetype in free agency, when they signed Leonard Floyd to a one-year pact. Albeit, he’s in his early-to-mid 30s, now. I bring it up because their body types are so similar, Pearce could only be helped by such a seasoned vet.

OK, those are the main reasons I decided taking an EDGE rather than “BPA” (T. McMillan, J. Campbell). Lastly, they already have solid production from their WR2 and iLB1.

James Pearce is fun to watch on tape. His Combine-speed of 4.47 (1.56 10-yard) in the 40 shows up all over his film. Despite being a young pup at age-21, he’s been on the national scene for a couple years. In the “way-too-early” mocks from last summer, Pearce was a popular name to go first overall. And yet, he was significantly better in 2024 than ’23.

His pass rush win rate, per PFF, was 23%. Further, his pass rush grade was just-under “elite” status at 89.4. Unlike (my guy) Shemar Stewart, Pearce actually turned his disruption into fantastic production. Over the past two years, as a “true” underclassman, he totals 21 sacks! We all know sack numbers don’t paint the whole picture; however, 21 in two years vs. 1.5 in three, the decision gets easier.

So, he can rush the passer — what about his terrible run-grades?! Not so fast! Much akin to Nolan Smith coming out, Pearce really improved as an edge setter on runs. While I don’t have the exact figures, Pearce improved from high-60s to 84.1 in PFF’s run stopping score! He definitely can use his speed-to-power to lay the oomph on linemen and skill players, alike. Hell, he had a 10.1% run stop rate.

The running of the 4.47 40 was nothing more than an exclamation point rather than a question mark. That is, to say, he is lightning quick getting off blocks. Once disengaged, he’s EVEN faster tracking down the QB or RB.

I don’t get why he isn’t more popular. Is it his measurements? Absolutely not. While not an elite spider graph (insert here), there are certainly no issues, either. James is 6’5” 245, nearly-33” arms and 10” hands. I love big mitts, and AGAIN, they show up on tape.

Last but not least, his bend is really high end. While draftniks may harp on his “long legs, short torso,” I’d prefer that with JPJ. I think his bend is much like a fellow UT alumnus: Derek Barnett. With the glaring exception that JPJ’s best trait is speed vs. it being Barnett’s worst. Think he’s a cleaner prospect, as well. (While the reports are hitting that he’s immature, no one could ever top those horrific DB 15-yard personal fouls, lol.)

The one area I really need JPJ to improve is his core and upper-body strength. As long as he progresses as players his ilk tend to do, we’re looking at a very good-to-great EDGE for a decade. All for the price of the 15th pick. (I’d LOVE if he made it to us; I just don’t see it.) Furthermore, he needs to work on his counter moves. Badly. His are almost nonexistent.

To summarize, he has immense upside and a much higher floor than Shemar Stewart, and Mike Green — as I said, I prefer big mitts (and non-creeps). He bounces or charges off OL eighty-plus pounds heavier than Pearce, as a 20/21-year old true soph a junior playing in the SEC. With his bend and speed, he can beat you right off the LOS for a quick sack. If he gets pushed down, his 0-60 is faster than a Porsche getting back to the QB. I saw few bad reps and a ton of great ones.

I think Pearce is Dallas Turner, if you’re looking for a very reason comp. Both raw, powerful, good lengthed, playing at top programs in the SEC. Oh, and since I’m contractually obligated to fawn praise unto Howie: Jalyx Hunt might end up being a Turner or Pearce type — not bad for the 94th overall pick! More Howie lovin’ apropos to this piece: Our best case scenario, besides Shemar slipping to our range, is getting “both UT” boys: Pearce and Omar Norman-Lott. The former reminds me of part-Josh, part-Nolan and part-Jalyx. Meanwhile, the latter (ONL) looks very similar to Milt.

(On a personal note, I wanted this pick to be a fun one. Having picked Pitts, London, Bijan and Penix is the last four first-rounds, I wanted the QB protected. Oh well; que sera sera. But I truly thought I’d have my pick of the two UGA EDGEs who went in our top-10. I know this is “only” a communal mock, but I actually really like how the top-half of the first-round is shaping up. There are a few picks that won’t happen in real life. Just, every mock has that… even ones done by the “pros.” Oh! Speaking of “pros,” McShay, PFF, Renner and the ilk are “warming up” (again) to James Pearce Jr. Unless his off-the-field nonsense is much more macabre, no way does JPJ escape the top-20. Or top-15 in this exercise.)

I haven’t written an article since my high school newspaper! Fun exercise. Hope it was readable and informative. Since I had the sports beat at my school, it was incredibly cool, as we were winning Catholic League Titles in football and basketball. But man, I’d have killed to have done it when Trotter Jr., Marv Jr., D-Swift, or even OZ were there. Such is life! (I coulda been a contendaa!)

2025 BGN Mock Draft Order

1) Titans (JoeDirtsBarber): Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado2) Browns (kjb304): Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State3) Giants (The Player Formerly Known as Mousecop): Cam Ward, QB, Miami4) Patriots (ReginaldHtower): Will Campbell, OT, LSU5) Jaguars (eaglenomics): Mason Graham, DT, Michigan6) Raiders (dkays): Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State7) Jets (Stick19154): Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State8) Panthers (89Tremaine): Will Johnson, CB, Michigan9) Saints (FierceDisc65): Jalon Walker, EDGE, Georgia10) Bears (DrprofBubbles): Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia11) 49ers (granthill7): Armand Membou, OT, Missouri12) Cowboys (Be subpar for Ja’Marr): Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas13) Dolphins (thehead92): Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas14) Colts (green1us): Grey Zabel, OL, North Dakota State15) Falcons (All_Hail_Howie): James Peace Jr., EDGE, Tennessee16) Cardinals (Good Bad Ideas)17) Bengals (ablesser88)18) Seahawks (herbalonius)19) Buccaneers (Hoosinole)20) Broncos (Silverlark60)21) Steelers (Dr.MidnightGreen)22) Chargers (LancGuy)23) Packers (Leo Bedio)24) Vikings (krikkebelgium)25) Texans (Aint1stULast)26) Rams (Booth12)27) Ravens (pheebthegoose)28) Lions (Neil Dutton)29) Commanders (Mailata_in_a_Miata)30) Bills (PhilaWolverine)31) Chiefs (niels.rosenquist)32) Eagles (Philly21)

Now it’s time for you to vote for who YOU think should be selected in the 2025 BGN Community Consensus Mock Draft.

1) Titans: QB Cam Ward2) Browns: EDGE Abdul Carter3) Giants: WR/CB Travis Hunter4) Patriots: OT Will Campbell5) Jaguars: DT Mason Graham6) Raiders: RB Ashton Jeanty7) Jets: OT Armand Membou8) Panthers: CB Will Johnson9) Saints: EDGE Jalon Walker10) Bears: TE Tyler Warren11) 49ers: OT Kelvin Banks Jr.12) Cowboys: WR Tetairoa McMillan13) Dolphins: OT Josh Simmons14) Colts: TE Colston Loveland15) Falcons: