James Pearce Jr. is starting to make a name for himself-and fast. After a rocky start to his rookie campaign, the 21-year-old edge rusher is now one of the few bright spots in a tough season for the 4-9 Atlanta Falcons.
Over his last five games, Pearce has racked up 5.5 sacks and a forced fumble, and his presence off the edge has become impossible to ignore. He’s not just flashing potential-he’s producing at a level that’s turned heads across the league.
The Falcons raised eyebrows on draft night when they pulled off a bold move to trade back into the first round for Pearce after already selecting linebacker Jalon Walker. The price was steep-second- and seventh-round picks in 2025, a 2026 first-rounder, and a third-rounder in return from the Rams.
Many questioned whether the aggressive play was worth it. Some even thought it might be the final misstep for GM Terry Fontenot.
But now, with 13 weeks in the books, that gamble is starting to look like a calculated win.
Pearce and Walker are currently tied for the most sacks among all rookies this season, each with five. That’s not just a fun stat-it’s a sign that Atlanta may have finally found the pass-rushing duo it’s been missing for years. The Falcons’ defense has struggled to generate consistent pressure for what feels like forever, but with Pearce’s burst off the line and Walker’s versatility, they’ve suddenly got a foundation to build on.
What makes Pearce stand out is his explosiveness. The former Tennessee standout has been a nightmare for opposing tackles, using his speed and bend to consistently collapse the pocket.
He’s not just beating guys-he’s doing it with technique and tenacity. That kind of development this early in a career is rare, and it’s putting him squarely in the Defensive Rookie of the Year conversation.
And that third-round pick Atlanta got back in the trade? They used it on Xavier Watts, who’s been a revelation in the secondary.
Watts, a two-time All-American at Notre Dame, leads all rookies in interceptions and has even started to generate some Pro Bowl buzz. His ball-hawking instincts and range have helped stabilize a Falcons secondary that’s been inconsistent in recent years.
Between Pearce and Watts, Atlanta didn’t just get one impact rookie-they got two.
Now, to be clear, this doesn’t erase all of Fontenot’s missteps in Atlanta. But credit where it’s due: he saw a glaring need in the pass rush, and he went all-in to fix it.
That kind of conviction is what separates front offices that stay stuck in the middle from those that take real steps forward. And with Pearce and Watts both ascending, the Falcons might finally be turning the corner on defense.
In Sunday’s loss to the Seahawks, Pearce extended his sack streak to five straight games, bringing down Sam Darnold and nearly notching a safety in the process. He briefly exited with an injury scare but returned to continue wreaking havoc. The week before, he came close to a multi-sack performance, showing that his production isn’t a fluke-it’s becoming a habit.
He’s not quite the frontrunner for Defensive Rookie of the Year-that title still belongs to Cleveland linebacker Carson Schwesinger-but Pearce is closing the gap. He’s finishing the season strong and drawing comparisons to elite edge rushers like Micah Parsons, not just because of his numbers, but because of the way he’s impacting games.
For a Falcons team in transition, James Pearce Jr. is giving fans something real to believe in. The sack numbers are great, but it’s the consistency, the motor, and the growth that suggest this isn’t just a hot streak-it’s the beginning of something much bigger.