Pearce Jr. Draft Hype Meets Harsh Reality
December 8, 2025
On Day 1, during the NFL 2025 Draft the Atlanta Falcons made a potentially season changing trade with the LA Rams.
This trade allowed the Falcons to trade up to the No. 26 draft pick, giving them the ability to draft Edge-Rush James Pearce Jr., who was a “stand out pass rusher” while he was at Tennessee. The Falcons went about this trade hoping to be able to buff up their D-Line, but we have seen very little action from Pearce Jr. this season.
The Falcons traded away their First round pick for the 2026 Draft, which will greatly damage them considering they practically wasted it for someone that doesn’t put up stats.
The draft pick that the Falcons threw away is currently projected to be the No. 9 overall draft pick in the 2026 Draft, and now the Rams get that unless they trade it away, but the Rams don’t need a pick this high in the draft. They look nearly unstoppable this season. This draft pick will most definitely give the Rams the unnecessary boost that will terrify the league.
James Pearce Jr. stood out in college, was expected to be a good edge rusher coming into the season, and I don’t know if it’s the play calls, or just him, but he does not look at all like what he was hyped up to be. This could be a prime example of how much of a change the NFL is to CFB. But in my opinion, the Falcons threw away their picks, and now look foolish.
Chris, Guest Author
The Goal Line Grind 