Tennessee EDGE rusher James Pearce was once projected as a possible No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft. No longer.
Per Pro Football Focus, the junior is now projected as the No. 15 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and, perhaps more disconcerting, his grades have dipped significantly this season compared to 2023.
Per the ratings, Pearce has dropped in every phase of the game other than rushing defense. Pearce’s rating has dipped over 20 points in his overall rating, more than 30 points in tackling, just over 24 points in pass rushing and just over 25 points in pass coverage.
The statistics on Pearce should also probably be taken into context. If he hasn’t played as well as he did last season, as the ratings would indicate, he’s fallen short during a much smaller sample size than last season. His play last season is surely what has kept him in the first round, not what he’s done this season.
Pearce has played a very limited in role in three of the Vols’ first four games, playing only ten snaps against Chattanooga in Tennessee’s season-opening game. His play was also limited in blowout wins North Carolina State and Kent State.
Pearce played a full game against Oklahoma in which he registered two tackles and 1/2 of a sack and no quarterback hurries. For the season, Pearce has three tackles, including one for a loss and the previously mentioned assist on a sack against the Sooners.
Tennessee’s defense certainly hasn’t missed a beat even if Pearce has. The Vols are playing more defensive linemen than they did last season, which limits Pearce’s opportunities to make plays. However, his lack of playing time shouldn’t affect his effectiveness when he’s in the game, theoretically.
The easiest explanation as to why Pearce isn’t as effective this season as he was last season could be that he’s still learning how to rotate in with so many other players as opposed to being expected to make plays throughout the game. That would make a lot of sense. Pearce was leaned on as a playmaker last season. He’s become more a part of a group effort in 2024.
Is it time to sound the alarm when it comes to Pearce? No. However, based on his ratings from Pro Football Focus, there is reason to be concerned – or at least wonder – about his production this season.
Pearce has a chance to improve those grades when No. 4 Tennessee plays Arkansas on Saturday at 7:30 in Fayetteville, Ark.
