Round 2, Pick 39: EDGE James Pearce Jr, Tennessee / 6’5, 245 lbs
With the first of their two very early second-round picks, the Chicago Bears will address the pass rush once again, this time with a former SEC EDGE rusher, James Pearce Jr.
The most impressive part about Pearce is his rapid growth through college. He came into Knoxville as a raw athlete with limited technical ability but has since become a top prospect and will likely not fall this far in the 2025 NFL Draft. During his final season at UT, Pearce nabbed 7.5 sacks to go along with 15 tackles for loss, while forcing one fumble as well.
He’s a natural pass-rusher with explosive moves of the line and a high football IQ. His downhill speed toward signal callers is another plus, as he’s an athletic freak at the defensive end position. With the right coaching and development, he screams future All-Pro.
Turn on the tape and you’ll find Pearce making a name for himself at the University of Tennessee.
If James Pearce Jr. can beat his character concerns, some team is getting a damn good football player. pic.twitter.com/Tbl19owV5a
— Andy (@AndyyNFL) April 9, 2025
As mentioned above, Pearce has been slipping a bit due to his character concern among scouts in the league. Some question his maturity level and motivation as he heads into the NFL, as it seems this happens every year to at least a few of the top prospects before draft day.
Widely regarded as one of the best EDGE rushers in the draft, if Pearce slips to the second round or even the late first, the Chicago Bears need to take a chance. Rushing the QB is one of the main concerns for this defense heading into the 2025 season, and Pearce could develop nicely if coached well.
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