The Atlanta Falcons have found a promising addition to their roster in James Pearce Jr., an edge rusher from Tennessee. During the pre-draft evaluation process, Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich was struck by Pearce’s speed and agility on film, which he described as having a high baseline of physical ability. “His demonstrated win-rate, his demonstrated bag of moves whether it’s beating you with his 4.4 speed off the edge or his ability to counter,” Ulbrich noted, adding that Pearce possesses significant power.
Initially assuming Pearce was smaller due to his movement skills, Ulbrich was surprised upon meeting him in person. “I remember that first time I met him,” Ulbrich recalled. “I was like, ‘Oh my god.'” Standing at 6-foot-5 and weighing 248 pounds, Pearce defied expectations with both size and speed.
Area scout Ryan Doyal had been tracking Pearce since his sophomore year at Tennessee and saw potential for a strong fit with Ulbrich’s defensive style. “There is a natural fit there,” Doyal explained, highlighting Pearce’s explosive abilities and quickness.
Falcons outside linebackers coach Jacquies Smith also praised Pearce’s performance at the NFL Combine where he ran a 4.47-second 40-yard dash. Smith remarked on how this speed translates into game performance: “With him, you see that juice is real.”
Despite some rumors about Pearce’s character, the Falcons see no cause for concern. Doyal emphasized Pearce’s intelligence and competitiveness: “It’s what separates somebody like James.” Smith added that Pearce plays with toughness and has traits that cannot be coached.
Ultimately, these qualities led the Falcons to trade back up into the first round to draft him. As Smith concluded: “He’s a guy who is going to be a force to be reckoned with.”
