Sports Illustrated names former Tennessee Vols standout as a leading candidate to win the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award in 2025

Sports Illustrated named a former Tennessee Vols standout as one of their top five candidates to win the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award in 2025. 

SI.com ranked former Vols edge rusher James Pearce as the No. 3 most likely player to be named the Defensive rookie of the Year this upcoming season. 

Pearce, a former four-star recruit from Charlotte, NC, was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the first round (No. 26 overall) of the 2025 NFL Draft.

From SI.com: Pearce’s freakish athletic gifts give him the most upside among the edge rushers drafted last month. The Falcons certainty believe that after coughing up a 2026 first-round pick to the Los Angeles Rams to trade back into the first round to select Pearce at No. 26. 

Atlanta did plenty of homework on Pearce and had no issues with the character concerns the Tennessee product had leading up to the draft. 

It may take Pearce time to develop a finesse game on the field, but he has the luxury of relying on his athleticism to break free from offensive lineman. Also, Pearce won’t be the sole focus on Atlanta’s defensive front because the team took versatile edge rusher Jalon Walker at No. 15. With Walker being more of a Swiss-Army knife, Pearce can focus on piling up sacks and pressures in his rookie season. 

The Falcons raised some eyebrows when they traded back into the first round to select Pearce, but Atlanta made the move because they believe the former Vol may have been the best pure edge rusher in this year's draft. 

Pearce should receive plenty of opportunities to rush the passer this fall with opponents focusing their attention on the Falcons' other first round selection, former Georgia Bulldogs edge rusher Jalon Walker.