Buccaneers NFL Draft Target: Edge James Pearce Jr., Tennessee

Let’s talk edge-rushing.

As recent as a month ago, Buccaneers’ fans would’ve hopped up on rooftops screaming their throats into a lozenge and sips of tea, that “Tampa’s first round draft pick must be an edge-rusher.” Jason Licht, understanding his team’s needs did already make an effort (Haason Reddick) to address the position prior to the league’s newest influx of young talent.

This year’s draft no longer needs to be kicked off with an edge rusher, however the position group is not completely taken care of. The common postulation is that the Buccaneers will be drafting a defender in round one of the 2025 NFL Draft, but will it still be the edge-rusher? An interesting prospect at the position is Tennessee’s James Pearce Jr.

Photo by Bryan Lynn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

College career

Prior to the start of the 2024 College football season, Pearce Jr. was held in high regard— Ranked as the number one player in college football according to ESPN.

Entering his third season at Tennessee, the 6-5, 243-pound Pearce is the top pass rusher in the country despite having started only three career games. He’s projected as a top-10 pick in the 2025 NFL draft and has 16.5 tackles for loss and 12 sacks in his first two seasons. Pearce was a first-team All-SEC selection last season by both the AP and coaches after ranking fifth nationally with 38 total pressures.

Following his top ranking, Pearce Jr. put forth a 38 tackle— 7.5 sack season that earned First-team All-SEC honors. The former Volunteer, declared for the NFL Draft having recorded 70 tackles, 19 sacks, three forced fumbles (one recovered), and an interception over three seasons of collegiate play.

NFL Draft pre-game

James Pearce Jr. has been projected all around the earlier parts of the draft. While most have Pearce Jr. regarded as a first-round talent, he has fallen out of the first round in some mock drafts.

At the NFL Scouting Combine, Pearce Jr. flashed the athleticism that once had him regarded as a definitive top-15 pick—

Not only was he seen running a sub-4.5 40 but Pearce Jr. also accompanied it with a 10’3’’ broad jump.

With the hype, production, and then combine athleticism to support it, what is precipitating his potential drop?

As the NFL Draft approaches it always becomes more and more challenging to determine what reporting is reality based in facts and which reports are smokescreens as they become customary this time of year. The above report is worth a read, there are a lot of highly critical critiques of Pearce Jr. In fact, he gets relatively torn apart. From his lack of work ethic, mentality, and the overall manner in which he carried himself at the University of Tennessee.

For the record, back in December of 2023, Pearce Jr. was arrested for disobeying orders from police. It was reported he was being stopped for speeding and driving on a suspended license (The charges did wind up being dropped).

While this occurance may be something NFL teams are taking into account the above article mentions far more ‘unofficial’ concerns about Pearce Jr.

James Pearce Jr. as a fit for the Buccaneers

The Buccaneers may not need to spend an early pick on an edge-rusher, however, the thought process would still be a valid one. A season ago, Tampa couldn’t field an edge-rusher with more than five sacks. The Buccaneers have already added to the group this offseason with Haason Reddick. In a perfect world, his addition figures to have a positive impact on younger players like Yaya Diaby and Chris Braswell, helping them climb closer to the realization of their potential. Even still, neither Diaby nor Braswell exist as proven entities for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Todd Bowles may not only want to add more talent to a room that has been bereft of it for a few seasons now, but also make some early preparations for the future. While Pearce Jr. would be unlikely to pencil himself in as a starter on the team’s depth chart from day one, Haason Reddick is only a one-year deal and the team will be faced with the prospect of re-signing him or letting him walk a year from now. The option of re-signing figures to run the Bucs a few extra dollars (comparable to Reddick’s contract this season), should he have the success both he and Tampa Bay are anticipating. If the Buccaneers were to draft a prominent edge-rusher in this year’s draft, adding him to the team as a rotational piece in the short-term may provide flexibility next offseason, by providing Todd Bowles with a cheaper and highly functional long-term answer at the position.

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