Bengals Add Tennessee Edge Rusher James Pearce Jr. in ESPN 2025 Mock Draft

Offseason time in Cincinnati.

Tennessee defensive lineman James Pearce Jr. (27) sacks UTEP quarterback JP Pickles (19) during a NCAA football game between Tennessee and UTEP in Neyland Stadium on Saturday, November 23, 2024. / Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

CINCINNATI — ESPN's Jordan Reid slotted Cincinnati with an NFL draft option that should pop up quite a bit in Bengals' mock drafts over the coming months. 

Tennessee's James Pearce Jr. went to Cincinnati at Pick 17.

"The Bengals only forced a sack on 5.5% of dropbacks by opposing QBs this season (sixth-worst rate in NFL) despite the presence of NFL sack leader Trey Hendrickson," Reid wrote. "The 6-foot-5, 243-pound Pearce is a lean, ultra-quick pass rusher who can race around blockers with ease. His 18.7% pressure rate was second-best in the FBS, helping lead to 7.5 sacks. He could be the complementary pass rusher Cincinnati desperately needs."

Pearce is the consensus 15th-best player on the 2025 big board and the third-best edge rusher.

Finding someone to pair with Hendrickson is imperative if Joseph Ossai leaves in free agency.

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