FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — When it comes to James Pearce Jr., there is one word that comes up time and time again when people describe him. That word is, "juice."
Pearce, it would seem, has a lot of it. But what does that mean for an edge rusher? Specifically, one a team like the Falcons traded back into the first round to acquire.
It all stems from speed and explosion.
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Pearce ran a scathing 4.47 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. That speed, according to Falcons outside linebackers coach Jacquies Smith, is special because of where and how it shows up.
"At the combine I am sure he wowed a lot of people with what he ran, but you do like to see guys like James who do run fast at the combine, does it translate on tape? Do you see that type of speed on tape?" Smith questioned. "With him, you see that juice. It's real juice. You see it all the time on tape. It isn't just something that a guy is out there running real fast at the combine and don't show it on tape. He shows it on tape. It's all over the tape, honestly."
The Falcons see Pearce as a "three-down, complete player," per Smith. They see him as one of the purest edge rushing talents of the entire class. More than that, perhaps, they feel as though Pearce's skillset and pass rushing abilities can be further enhanced when placed within defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich's scheme.
"(Ulbrich) wants juice coming off the edge, and James comes screaming off the edge," Falcons area scout Ryan Doyal said. "If you're looking for that guy who really changes just the count and the tempo of how teams have to play us, that's where James fits in."
Doyal went on to say there seemed to be a natural fit between Pearce and what Ulbrich wants at the position. This is because Ulbrich ultimately wants players who can get up the field quickly, have explosion and palpable twitch and burst. It's why the Falcons valued players like Leonard Floyd and Divine Deablo in free agency. It's why they selected Jalon Walker with the No. 15 overall pick. And it's why they marched back into the first round to acquire Pearce.
When it comes to twitch, explosion and, yes, juice…
"James is all of those things," Doyal concluded.
We take a look at James Pearce Jr. in action prior to being selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Tennessee defensive lineman James Pearce Jr. (27) reacts to making a sack during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Kentucky, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Tennessee defensive lineman James Pearce Jr. (27) lines up for a play during an NCAA football game against Arkansas on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Fayetteville, Ark. Arkansas won 19-14. (AP Photo/Mike Buscher)
UTEP quarterback JP Pickles (19) is sacked by Tennessee defensive lineman James Pearce Jr. (27) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Tennessee defensive lineman James Pearce Jr. (27) plays during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Vanderbilt, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Tennessee defensive linemen James Pearce Jr. (27) and Omarr Norman-Lott (55) tackle Oklahoma quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. (9) during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Norman, Okla. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)
Tennessee defensive lineman James Pearce Jr. (27) plays during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Vanderbilt, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Tennessee defensive lineman James Pearce Jr. (27) against Arkansas during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Fayetteville, Ark. (AP Photo/Michael Woods)
Tennessee defensive lineman James Pearce Jr. (27) on the field during an NCAA football game against Arkansas on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Fayetteville, Ark. Arkansas won 19-14. (AP Photo/Mike Buscher)
