Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

James Pearce Jr. has been a star early in Falcons training camp

Originally posted on SportsTalkATL | By Chase Irle | Last updated Jul 29, 2025 12:19 PM ET

The Falcons’ decision to trade a future first round pick to move back into the first round and select James Pearce Jr. was met with a lot of skepticism from the national media. However, if he helps fix what’s been Atlanta’s single most glaring issue for more than a decade, it will be a home run move from general manager Terry Fontenot, who knows results have to start coming if he’s to keep his job.

It might only be training camp, but James Pearce Jr. seems to be impressing everyone with eyeballs early on. He was at the center of two on-field scuffles at Sunday’s practice, but as D. Orlando Ledbetter notes for the Atlanta Journal Constitution, those skirmishes were the result of Pearce simply putting a beating on the man in front of him.

“Pearce’s speed and tenacity got under the skin of the offensive linemen,” Ledbetter wrote.

Raheem Morris isn’t one to praise fighting at practice, but it’s pretty evident he appreciates the edge Pearce is bringing to the Falcons defense.

Raheem Morris said a reason the Falcons' liked James Pearce Jr. in the first place was because of the edge that he plays with (no pun intended). They like the fire, the passion. As long as it is contained; that's the important part.

— Tori McElhaney (@tori_mcelhaney) July 29, 2025

The Falcons haven’t had a true defensive identity in years, and the one player who consistently brought an edge to that unit — Grady Jarrett — is now in Chicago. His leadership won’t be easily replaced, especially not by a rookie.

But the influx of young talent over the last two offseasons seems to have brought something else: a collective chip on the shoulder. That kind of group mentality can be dangerous, and it’s exactly what Raheem Morris and Jeff Ulbrich are hoping to tap into as they reshape this defense in 2025.

This article first appeared on SportsTalkATL and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: