James Pearce Jr. - The Top EDGE In The... 2024 NFL Draft?

Tennessee Volunteers edge rusher James Pearce Jr. is a top name for the 2025 NFL Draft, but he got some hype for this upcoming one, which he isn't even eligible for.

At center Tennessee s James Pearce Jr. (27) listens to the Tennessee Waltz with his teammates / Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel / USA TODAY

Tennessee Volunteers edge rusher James Pearce Jr. is a top name for the 2025 NFL Draft, but he got some hype for this upcoming one, which he isn't even eligible for.

Tennessee edge rusher James Pearce Jr. has the chance to become the highest Tennessee Volunteer selected in a long time. The consensus All-SEC first-teamer is receiving attention as a potential No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, as the quarterback class looks weaker.

Pro Football Focus has been high on Pearce for months, and Max Chadwick explained why he chose Pearce as his No. 1 pass rusher in college football, regardless of class or departure. Pearce will likely be a preseason All-American and is viewed as the top defensive prospect in the sport.

"Pearce became one of the most fearsome pass-rushers in the country this past season," Chadwick explained in a recent article. "The sophomore’s 21.3% pressure rate ranked third among all edge defenders in the country, as was his 92.4 PFF pass-rush grade. Pearce ended the season as the fourth-most valuable Power Five edge defender according to PFF’s wins above average metric. He has freakish explosiveness at 6-foot-5, 242 pounds, and converts speed to power at an elite level. With the 2025 NFL Draft looking like it’ll have a weaker quarterback class, there’s a real chance that Pearce could be the No. 1 overall pick next year."

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