NFL Draft Profile: DE James Pearce Jr.

Breaking down Tenneesee DE James Pearce Jr.

This week I’ve been breaking down some defensive end prospects that the Washington Commanders could be considering with the 29th pick of the draft. Previously I looked at Donovan Ezeiruaku out of Boston College and Nic Scourton from Texas A&M, who have both been heavily linked to the Commanders in mock drafts. The third edge rusher I’ve seen commonly linked with the Commanders is Tennessee’s James Pearce Jr. so he’s the next rusher I’m breaking down this week.

Pearce is an impressive athlete, standing at 6-foot-5, 245 pounds with nearly 33-inch arms. Pearce ran a fantastic 4.47 40-yard dash, which to put into perspective at just how impressive that is, top running back prospect Omarion Hampton ran a 4.46 40-yard dash. Pearce ran nearly the same time as a top running back despite being 25 pounds heavier. He also had a 1.56 10-yard split, which is the more important number for defensive lineman because they work in smaller spaces where it’s more about initial burst than long speed. That was the fastest 10-yard split of any defensive end at the Combine this year.

That athletic ability is the first thing that stands out when watching Pearce. He uses that athleticism and burst to great effect as a pass rusher, bursting off the line of scrimmage and threatening tackles with pure speed off the edge.

This play against Alabama is a great example of Pearce’s burst and athleticism at the snap. Pearce times the snap perfectly here, bursting out of his stance at almost the exact same time as the center starts to move the ball. He accelerates up the field quickly getting to his second and third steps before the right tackle, who is a step behind thanks to the combination of timing the snap and Pearce’s burst. As a result, the tackle has to abandon his technique and just try and do whatever he can to cut off Pearce, but he just can’t match that quickness and Pearce works around him for the sack.

That burst and quickness makes Pearce a significant threat to attack the edge on every play, but if tackles overset trying to cut off his speed, he can change direction and work inside without losing much of his speed.

This time we see Pearce working against the right tackle. Pearce starts working up the field but feels the tackle trying his hardest to get outside and cut off that speed threat to the edge. That leaves a gap inside, so Pearce adjusts his path to dive inside the tackle. He’s able to hop inside without losing much momentum, using a club and rip combination to break free of the tackle. The quarterback feels the immediate pressure and does well to check the ball down to the running back underneath to avoid a sack. Despite not getting the sack, Pearce did draw a holding penalty from the right tackle, which negated the completion and set the offense back.

Pearce is always a threat to get the edge if a tackle isn’t quick enough to cut him off. That threat can come straight off the snap with his initial burst or midway through the play after engaging in a block. Pearce’s speed is hard to handle when used properly.