The Atlanta Falcons made a bold choice to double up on edge rushers in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft. After Georgia's Jalon Walker fell into the team's lap at pick No. 15, Atlanta traded back into the first round to grab Tennessee's James Pearce Jr. with the 26th overall pick.

James Pearce Jr. extended his sack streak and breaking the Falcons’ rookie record against Tampa Bay on Thursday Night Football.

The ESPN analyst and NFL safety didn't nail a bold prediction of his, but he's still certain of what the Atlanta Falcons linebacker can become

Jalon Walker also recorded a sack in Week 15, continuing his stellar rookie campaign. Despite missing some time, Walker has been wildly productive when healthy. Overall, Atlanta's two first-round picks have been a consistent bright spot in an otherwise down year.

Falcons rookie James Pearce Jr. is having an excellent first season, extending a streak in Week 14 not seen since Micah Parsons' first year.

Pearce has now registered a sack in each of the last five games, which is the longest current streak in the NFL. The last rookie to accomplish this feat was former Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons. Pearce now has six sacks on the season, which is tied with defensive lineman Brandon Dorlus for the team lead.

While the Atlanta Falcons have been anything but consistent this season, rookie edge rusher James Pearce Jr. has been a consistent bright spot in an otherwise disappointing year. Atlanta overcame a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter to upset the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the team couldn't have done it without Pearce.

Los Angeles Sparks star Rickea Jackson and new Atlanta Falcons rookie James Pearce appeared to hard-launch their relationship on NFL Draft night. Pearce, 21, went to the Falcons with the 26th overall pick in the draft, the first round of which played out ...

The Atlanta Falcons have had a 2025 season to forget, but rookie edge rusher James Pearce Jr. has been a defensive marvel.

James Pearce was keen to praise one Liverpool player who ‘hardly put a foot wrong’ in their win over Inter Milan on Tuesday night. Mo Salah’s explosive outburst after the Leeds game on Saturday ensured that the post-match spotlight was firmly on him when it could otherwise have been on Ibrahima Konate after the defender’s impetuous concession of the penalty which triggered the Whites’ comeback in the final 20 minutes.

It's been a fantastic rookie season for current Atlanta Falcons edge rusher and former Tennessee standout James Pearce, Jr. Despite a forgettable 5-9 record, Pearce has turned things on over the last six weeks and should be a prime candidate for the league's Defensive Rookie of the Year award.