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Even with the NFL draft months away, it is never to early to start looking at some of the many prospects that will be future NFL players. There will be more comprehensive profiles completed, and Big Boards assembled as the draft draws closer, especially after the offseason All Star events and NFL Combine are completed and more tape is studied. However, this preview series will give a brief overview to some of some of the popular players we will hear about as potential first or second round picks in April, and if they could be a fit for the Los Angeles Chargers.
Pearce is an explosive pass rusher off the edge. He excels in using his speed and extremely flexible frame to bend past offensive linemen and wreak havoc in the backfield. He is fantastic in using his hands to swipe and disrupt as he blows by. He seems more comfortable as a stand-up edge where he can use his burst and get his hands in motion quickly. His strength at this point in his development is purely speed off the edge, as his wiry frame does not bring much power to his game yet. In my opinion, he still has room to pack on a few more pounds so that he can anchor at least rudimentarily to set an edge at the next level. If not, he could be labelled as strictly a pass rush specialist and not a three down player. He will also need to develop better counters and maybe even some spins or club overs to the inside to play off his speed around the edge, especially when less athletic tackles overset to the outside or cheat in their alignments at the line of scrimmage.
At this point in the process, I would expect Pearce to be selected somewhere in the middle to late first round. He profiles to be extremely attractive to a team that is looking to add a pure speed and explosive element off the edge to compliment either a stout defensive interior, or an already established edge defender opposite him that can be the focus of the opponent. I do not think he can be expected to come in on day one and be the alpha dog like Miles Garrett, the Bosa brothers or Watt brothers did immediately. With his lack of pure power or size, he is not in that mold just yet.
For Pearce to be a good fit with the LAC, the team would need to bring back either Bosa and/or Mack for 2025. Pearce would be an excellent second or third pass rusher and would give fantastic and explosive depth to the unit, especially in NASCAR rush packages. Drafting him to be the starter opposite Tuli Tuipulotu would not be ideal in year one in my opinion. His body and skills could use another year or two of development to round into a complete NFL Edge.
I haven’t read your James Pearce Jnr write yet, @erick-v. Posting my notes first below:
- Three Seasons. 39 games (987 snaps), 23 sacks
- 2024 Stats:
- 13 games, 55 Pressures, 8 sacks, 1 Forced Fumble, 4 hits, 43 hurries
- 87.1 Overall Grade
- 89.4 Pass Rush Grade
- 84.1 Run Defense Grade
- 23.0% Pass Rush Win Rate
- 10.1% Run-Stop Rate
- 19.4% Missed Tackle Rate (20.9% for Career).
- Watched games v Iowa (2023), Alabama (2024), Oklahoma (2024) and Ohio State (2024, Quarter Final)
- First round prospect with high-end traits for the position and decent football IQ. Can survive as a 5-tech Defensive End with his hand in the dirt in a 4-3 system but best suited to playing in wider alignments as a stand-up Edge in a 3-4 Defense.
- Character concerns may lead to him sliding on Draft night: https://atozsports.com/nashville/volunteers/tennessee-vols-edge-rusher-james-pearce-nfl-draft-boards-character-concerns/
- As a pass rusher:
- Pearce Jr is a pass rusher in a hurry. He’s tall with a medium-sized build and long arms. His get-off is upper echelon and not carrying much weight in his arms or torso allows his explosive movement skills to shine (upfield and laterally). The traits and movement skills alone make him a Top 15-20 Overall pick in most draft classes.
- Doesn’t bend with the fluidity of the NFL’s most athletic rushers, but from wider alignments takes direct angles to impact the QB.
- Doesn’t use both hands to best effect atm. He’ll inside stab or long arm with his inside hand while getting to the corner asap seeking to win with superior athleticism. Limited evidence of using his outside hand to cross-chop or on club-rips. What he does works though at the college level.
- Slightly too upright out of his stance. Keeps his legs driving but lacks technical refinement and can get stuck on blocks.
- Flashes the ability to convert speed to power but his bull rush, at this stage, is not a strength.
- Uses athleticism and high motor to minimise the effectiveness of extended plays/QB scrambles.
- Doesn’t always finish the play. Some missed sack opportunities against Alabama that Milroe (who’s highly athletic) narrowly avoided, and again v Oklahoma.
- Had a 50 yd pick six dropping into coverage v Iowa (2023). Exceptional coverage instincts and fluidity for a 6’4” defender.
- Quieter outing against Ohio State in the College Football Quarter Final.
- As a run defender:
- Uses club and lateral agility to evade blockers at the line and avoid double teams. If kept clean he will blow up plays at or near the line of scrimmage.
- Can get pushed off the ball when linemen get into his chest.
- Not traditional in his approach as he’ll happily look to slide around contact with a shoulder lean rather than stacking and shedding/setting a hard edge. Can do it both ways though when called upon.
- Defeinitely not a liability in this area but unlikely to be his calling card in the League.
Agreed with your write up here. Pearce is Speed off the Edge, with some savvy to his game. I do think he can add some more bulk without sapping his speed to be better against bigger OT at the NFL level.
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