James Pearce Jr. isn’t just having a strong rookie season - he’s rewriting what we expect from first-year pass rushers. Over the past six weeks, only Myles Garrett has more sacks.
That’s not just impressive company - that’s elite territory. And with another two sacks in Week 15, Pearce extended his streak to six straight games with at least one sack, a feat only Micah Parsons has matched among rookies this century.
Let that sink in.
Pearce, taken with the 26th overall pick in April, has quickly become the centerpiece of a revitalized Atlanta Falcons pass rush. He’s not just producing - he’s changing the identity of this defense. What was once a unit searching for answers off the edge now has a rising star who’s forcing offensive coordinators to adjust their game plans weekly.
The Falcons saw something others didn’t. Pearce was the fifth EDGE rusher taken in the 2025 NFL Draft, and while draft-day decisions always come with hindsight, it’s hard not to see this one as a major misstep for several teams - especially the Cincinnati Bengals.
Nine picks before Pearce came off the board, the Bengals selected Shemar Stewart at No. 17.
And so far, that pick hasn’t panned out. Stewart came into the league with questions about his production at Texas A&M, and those questions have only grown louder.
He spent much of the offseason in a contract standoff, which delayed his development. Then came the injuries - an ankle issue in Week 2, followed by a lower-body injury shortly after returning, and finally a knee injury in Week 9 that landed him on injured reserve.
The result? Five games.
Zero sacks. And a whole lot of frustration in Cincinnati.
At 6-foot-5 and 267 pounds, Stewart was viewed as a developmental player - raw tools, high upside. But the Bengals weren’t just drafting for the future.
They wanted someone who could step in and be a complementary piece to Trey Hendrickson right away. Instead, they’re left wondering what could’ve been - because Pearce is looking like the ideal fit they passed on.
Adding to the sting? Hendrickson is set to hit free agency this offseason.
So this wasn’t just about finding a partner - it was about potentially securing his successor. And right now, the guy leading all rookies in sacks - and smashing Falcons rookie records along the way - is doing it in Atlanta, not Cincinnati.
Meanwhile, Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich is reaping the benefits. Pearce has been a game-changer, and he’s not alone.
Jalon Walker, the last pass-rusher taken before Stewart, is second among rookies in sacks. But it’s Pearce who’s turning heads weekly and justifying Atlanta GM Terry Fontenot’s aggressive move to trade away the team’s 2026 first-round pick to go get him.
That decision raised eyebrows at the time. Now? It looks like a masterstroke.
Pearce is more than just a Defensive Rookie of the Year frontrunner - he’s a foundational piece for a Falcons defense on the rise. And for teams that passed on him, especially those in need of pass-rush help, his success is a weekly reminder of what they missed.