ScoutIndex

ATL ATL

James Pearce Jr.

DE

Drafted 26th overall in the 1st round of the 2025 draft, James Pearce Jr. arrived from Tennessee. He's currently with ATL, in his 2nd season in the league. He graded out among the best DEFs in the league last season — a 83.9 ScoutIndex Rating, the 97th percentile at the position.

Size

6'5", 242#

College

Tennessee

Draft

Rd 1, 26th overall (2025)

Seasons

2025–2026

2025 ScoutIndex Rating · DEF

Methodology
83.9

97th percentile among DEFs

15 games

Splash plays×0.15+0.45
Pass rush×0.3+2.90
Ball skills×0.25+0.26
Run defense×0.2+1.58
Availability×0.1+0.92

Career (regular season)

SeasonTmSIGPass ydsPass TDRush ydsRush TDRecRec ydsRec TD
2025ATL83.915

Career profile

James Pearce Jr. has appeared in 15 regular-season games across 1 NFL season on file, all with ATL.

By the ScoutIndex Rating, his best qualified season was 2025: a 83.9, in the 97th percentile among DEFs that year.

2025 splits

regular season

2025 game log

WkOppLineScore
Week 1TB—39.7
Week 2MIN—47.3
Week 6BUF—58.5
Week 7SF—39.7
Week 8MIA—41.3
Week 9NE—40.3
Week 10IND—95.8
Week 11CAR—76.6
Week 12NO—78.6
Week 13NYJ—74.1
Week 14SEA—75.5
Week 15TB—99
Week 16ARI—68.1
Week 17LAR—40.1
Week 18NO—95.6

James Pearce Jr. — common questions

What position does James Pearce Jr. play?
James Pearce Jr. is listed as a DE.
Which teams has James Pearce Jr. played for?
In the seasons on file (1999 onward), James Pearce Jr. has played for ATL (2025).
Where did James Pearce Jr. go to college?
James Pearce Jr. played college football at Tennessee.
When was James Pearce Jr. drafted?
James Pearce Jr. was selected in round 1, 26th overall, of the 2025 NFL Draft.
How many touchdowns has James Pearce Jr. scored?
James Pearce Jr. has no rushing, receiving or passing touchdowns in the regular-season games on file.
What is James Pearce Jr.'s ScoutIndex Rating?
James Pearce Jr. rated 83.9 for 2025, the 97th percentile among DEFs. Ratings run 0–99; about 60 is a league-average qualified starter.

Related players

Top teammates, last season on file

Drafted in round 1, 2025

Also from Tennessee