We continue our 2025 NFL Draft preview of draft prospects that could interest the Dallas Cowboys. Today we are looking at edge rusher James Pearce Jr. from Tennessee.
DE/OLB
Tennessee Volunteers
Junior
4-star recruit
6’5”
242 lbs
Photo by Andy Altenburger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
History
James Pearce Jr. attended Julius L. Chambers High School in Charlotte, North Carolina. He was a four-star recruit after his impressive senior year where he recorded 14.5 sacks. His recruitment was somewhat unheralded until late in the process, but he received offers from several prestigious programs before committing to Tennessee.
As a true freshman, Pearce Jr. appeared in 13 games mostly in a reserve capacity, rotating in but credited with three starts. He showed flashes of potential with two sacks and two tackles for loss. His sophomore season saw a significant jump in performance, leading the SEC in sacks with 10 and ranking second in tackles for loss (15). He also made one interception which he returned for a touchdown, showing off his unbelievable athleticism on the play. His notable achievements included being named to the All-SEC First Team.
Last season, Pearce continued his impressive trajectory, recording 7.5 sacks, 13 tackles for loss, and leading Tennessee in pressures with 55. His performance helped Tennessee reach the College Football Playoff for the first time. He was again honored with first-team All-SEC accolades and was a semifinalist for Bednarik award. Even though he had a productive season there was clear issue between him and the coaches in the way they utilized the elite pass rusher..
2024 Statistics
464 Defensive Snaps
38 Total Tackles
13 Tackles For Loss
55 Total Pressures
8 Sacks
1 Forced Fumble
1 Fumble Recovery
5 Penalties
NFL Combine/Pro Day
TBC
Awards
First-team All-SEC (2024)
First-team All-SEC (2023)
Scorecard
Overall- 89.1
Speed- 86
Acceleration- 97
Agility- 86
Strength- 82
Pass Rush- 88
Run Defense- 86
Tackling- 81
Discipline- 98
THE GOOD
He possesses exceptional speed and acceleration off the edge, making him a formidable presence in pass-rushing situations.
His burst off the line is the best in this year’s draft class
His burst combined with exceptional snap anticipation makes him the first guy in the backfield on a regular basis.
Elite as a speed rusher and has a solid spin move.
Clearly a high motor player.
Can play both as a stand-up linebacker in the two-point and with his hand in the dirt, showing flexibility in defensive schemes.
THE BAD
Undersized for the position.
He sometimes struggles to disengage from blockers in the run game, leading to missed tackles or being taken out of plays.
Doesn’t have a wide range of pass rush moves at his disposal.
While generally a good tackler, his technique can occasionally falter, particularly in open-field situations where he might miss or not wrap up securely.
His run defense needs some refinement.
While he has good strength for his position, he could benefit from further development to handle NFL-level offensive linemen more consistently.
THE FIT
James Pearce Jr. is seen as a high-upside edge rusher with the potential to develop into an NFL high-caliber starter. His combination of speed, agility, and a non-stop motor makes him an exciting prospect, though he’ll need to work on his strength and run defense to be fully effective at the next level. His performance at Tennessee has been marked by significant growth, suggesting he could continue to rapidly develop with the right coaching.
How he would fit in Dallas is a vital consideration. His quickness and bend could be utilized effectively. The synergy between Pearce and Micah Parsons would be wildly significant. Parsons’ ability to draw double- and triple-teams means Pearce could often go one-on-one with tackles, leveraging his speed to his advantage.
If Pearce is available in the first round the Cowboys might consider him, especially if they prioritize defensive line in the draft. His value could be seen as a high-reward pick if they believe in his developmental potential. Pearce would be an exciting prospect for the Cowboys, particularly to bolster their pass rush given the lack of depth at the position for the upcoming season. His athletic gifts align make him a tantalizing prospect, but his development in run defense and strength would be key to his immediate impact.
COMPARISON
Brian Burns, New York Giants
BTB GRADE
10th
CONSENSUS RANKING
14th
(Consensus ranking based on the average ranking from 90 major scoring services)
