Falcons trade future 1st, draft Pearce to double up on edge rushers

The Atlanta Falcons made a surprise trade to get back into Round 1 on Thursday.

Atlanta then selected Tennessee edge rusher James Pearce Jr. in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, 26th overall.

The Falcons traded their 46th and 242nd overall picks this year, as well as a 2026 first-rounder, to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for the 26th and 101st selections in 2025.

The stunning move took place after the Falcons already landed linebacker Jalon Walker at No. 15.

Pearce finished 2024 with 7.5 sacks after leading the SEC with 10 in '23. He's expected to become a key contributor to a Falcons team that hasn't seen a player reach double-digit sacks in a season since 2016. Arnold Ebiketie led Atlanta with six last year.

Pre-draft profile

Pearce was one of the combine's big winners, displaying his unique athletic abilities with a 4.47 40 time. That speed was evident on the field at Tennessee. He's extremely quick off the ball and has active hands throughout the rep. Pearce can also convert speed to power for a more impactful bull rush than what's expected for his frame. He doesn't have the bend of a high-end speed rusher, though, and his size is something to watch. Playing through contact in his rush can be an issue, and he probably doesn't have the strength to set the edge against NFL linemen early on. Pearce will make his money on passing downs. He could be an impact player in that area on Day 1.