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2025 NFL Draft · Rd 1, Pick 26 · #26 overall

James Pearce Tennessee Draft

James Pearce was drafted No. 26 overall by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2025 NFL Draft out of Tennessee. 17 regular-season games · 3 career approximate value

Overall pick
#26
Round
1
Draft class
2025
NFL games
17
Career AV
3124th at Tennessee

The pick

How James Pearce came off the board in 2025.

Drafted by

Atlanta Falcons

Rd 1, Pick 26 · #26 overall · NFC South

Full 2025 draft class (257 picks)
Position
Defensive end DE
College
Tennessee SEC at the draft
Measurables
6'5" · 245 lbs
Hometown
Charlotte, NC
Pre-draft board
No. 16 prospect90.0 grade
Side of the ball
Defense

NFL career

17 regular-season games · 3 career approximate value

Games played
17
Career approximate value
3124th among Tennessee picks
AV with the drafting club
3100% of career value
Final season
20250 years after the draft

Around pick 26

Who came off the board on either side of James Pearce.

#24 Donovan Jackson OL · MIN Ohio State #25 Jaxson Dart QB · NYG Ole Miss #27 Malaki Starks SAF · BAL Georgia #28 Tyleik Williams DT · DET Ohio State

Tennessee in the 2025 draft

Teammates who went in the same class.

#63 Omarr Norman-Lott DT · KC Tennessee #108 Dont'e Thornton WR · LV Tennessee #126 Dylan Sampson RB · CLE Tennessee

Other DE picks from Tennessee

The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.

#12 Shaun Ellis DE · NYJ · 2000 Tennessee · 2× Pro Bowl #65 Leonard Little DE · LAR · 1998 Tennessee · 1× All-Pro · 1× Pro Bowl #51 Chuck Smith DE · ATL · 1992 Tennessee #140 Parys Haralson DE · SF · 2006 Tennessee #23 Chris Mims DE · LAC · 1992 Tennessee #150 Shane Burton DE · MIA · 1996 Tennessee

About this draft profile

Last updated Aug 24, 2026

James Pearce in the 2025 NFL Draft

James Pearce is a Defensive end out of Tennessee selected No. 26 overall by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2025 NFL Draft. 17 regular-season games · 3 career approximate value Tennessee has produced 214 NFL draft picks since 1980.

Where this data comes from

Pick order and career outcomes come from the nflverse draft archive; position, measurables, and conference at the time of the draft come from the college feed. Career columns stay empty until a player logs regular-season snaps.

Keep exploring

Frequently asked questions

Where was James Pearce drafted?

James Pearce was selected No. 26 overall by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2025 NFL Draft (Rd 1, Pick 26). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/2025/james-pearce.

What college did James Pearce play for?

James Pearce played college football at Tennessee in the SEC. See every Tennessee draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/tennessee-volunteers.

How did James Pearce's NFL career turn out?

17 regular-season games · 3 career approximate value Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/2025/james-pearce.