FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — After trading back into the first round, the Atlanta Falcons have selected University of Tennessee edge rusher James Pearce Jr. with the No. 26 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. In the trade with the Los Angeles Rams, the Falcons gave up pick No. 46 and 242 in this year's draft as well as their first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. In addition to the No. 26 pick, the Falcons will also receive pick No. 101 this year.

RELATED: Falcons select UGA LB Jalon Walker with No. 15 pick

The Falcons continued to juice their pass rush by drafting Pearce. Atlanta signed Leonard Floyd in free agency, but the draft was always the clearest path for It to add a young impact player for the defense. That's exactly what it hopes Pearce will be.

This draft had a number of talented edge rushers, providing teams with options to match their preference. Let's take a closer look at what the Falcons are getting in Pearce.

Height: 6-5

Weight: 245 lbs

School: University of Tennessee

2024 Stats: 13 starts | 38 tackles | 7.5 sacks | 13 tackles for loss | 1 forced fumble | 1 fumble recovery | 55 total pressures

• Click to view complete college stats

Honors: 2024 second-team All-SEC | 2023 first-team All-SEC | led SEC in sacks in 2023

How he fits with the Falcons:

The Falcons needed to add juice to their pass rush, and Pearce brings a lot of juice. He's an athletic player who stays clean by ripping, dipping and dancing his way past offensive tackles. Pearce has elite first-step explosiveness and will have opponents on their back foot in the blink of an eye. Don't expect Pearce to hold up at the point of attack in the run game, but that's not what he's here to do. The Falcons need someone to get after the quarterback, and he does that as well as any player in this draft class as evidenced by his 17.5 sacks over the last two seasons.

Expert Opinions

Dane Brugler, The Athletic: "Although not a technician, Pearce is a fast, linear athlete who can win races to the edge or collapse the pocket with force behind his extended, upward levers (23 percent pass rush win rate in 2024, second best in the FBS). He was steady with his effort against the run in college, but more will be needed of him to hold up against NFL competition. Overall, Pearce is upright and frenetic in his play style, but his blend of explosiveness and power creates consistent disruption as a pass rusher. He shows promise in the run game, too. If he works to maximize his talent, he will be a productive pro."

Daniel Jeremiah, NFL Network: "Pearce is a long, lean edge rusher. The Volunteers moved him around in their scheme and he created havoc from a variety of entry points. His first three steps are very explosive when he's rushing off the edge. … His pressure rate stands out among his peers in this class. Against the run, he plays bigger than his weight would suggest. He sets a firm edge, especially against tight ends. Overall, Pearce has double-digit sack potential and should make an immediate impact in the league."

If you'd like to learn more:

• Pearce tabbed CFB’s “top returning edge rusher” - (Evan Crowell, Sports Illustrated)
• Why Pearce has been dominant after slow start - (Trevor McGee, The Daily Beacon)
• How Pearce went from unheralded recruit to star - (Will Backus, CBS Sports)