Tennessee edge rusher James Pearce Jr. has frequently been linked to the Cincinnati Bengals as a potential draft target. Since December, several mock drafts have projected Cincinnati selecting Pearce in the first round due to their need for pass rushers.
Over his last two seasons at Tennessee, Pearce amassed 28 tackles for loss and 17.5 sacks, earning First-Team All-SEC honors both years. With the draft approaching, his name continues to surface as a possible Bengals pick.
Interestingly, a recent ESPN mock draft predicts Cincinnati landing Pearce in the second round instead of the first. This scenario would allow the Bengals to secure a top-tier prospect in the first round while still adding a pass rusher who could be an ideal fit for their defense in the following round.
James Pearce Jr. falls to second round, Bengals grab him in latest ESPN mock
The mock draft, authored by Matt Miller, highlights certain on-field concerns about James Pearce Jr. that could potentially cause him to slide out of the first round, making him available for Cincinnati in the second.
From ESPN:
Matt Miller’s mock draft notes that while re-signing Trey Hendrickson is Cincinnati’s top priority, the team still needs help on the edge following Sam Hubbard’s retirement and Joseph Ossai’s stalled development.
Pearce has been highly productive, recording 17.5 sacks over the past two seasons, and his athleticism stands out—he ran a 4.47-second 40-yard dash with a 1.56-second 10-yard split. However, at 6-foot-5 and 245 pounds, he is considered slightly undersized.
Once viewed as a top-10 prospect, concerns about his play strength and reliance on speed moves have caused his stock to dip. Despite this, he has the potential to make an immediate impact as a pass-rush specialist.
Before Bengals fans get too excited, it’s important to acknowledge that James Pearce Jr. falling all the way to No. 49—Cincinnati’s second-round pick—remains highly unlikely.
As Miller pointed out, Pearce was once projected as a top-10 selection, so while his stock may have slipped, it’s hard to envision him completely falling out of the first round. If the Bengals are serious about drafting him, they’ll likely need to use their first-round pick rather than hoping he’s still available in the second.
If Cincinnati opts to go in a different direction in the first round and Pearce is still on the board afterward, they could consider trading up in the second round to improve their chances of landing him. However, even that scenario seems improbable.
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