2025 NFL Combine

James Pearce JR is the best EDGE rusher in the draft.

Too many people fall in love with the Penn ST EDGE hype every year & I get it, but, JPJ has been the most dominant pure pass rusher in CFB the last 2 years.

And he's only scratched the surface.

Super high upside.
Carter a beast too. 24 tfls and 12 sacks ain’t nun to just wave off
 

Advertisement
Advertisement
Wonder what the official ones will end up being but that is way better than expected.

The drop off from the end of Kiko's junior season to the end of his senior season was dramatic. I was expecting him to take another big step in '24 not have the poor performance we all saw. He had to have been dealing with injury, whether from the surgery or during the season after the UF game. Kid may actually get drafted and play in the league. We know his bloodlines are quality.
 
The drop off from the end of Kiko's junior season to the end of his senior season was dramatic. I was expecting him to take another big step in '24 not have the poor performance we all saw. He had to have been dealing with injury, whether from the surgery or during the season after the UF game. Kid may actually get drafted and play in the league. We know his bloodlines are quality.
His issue is that he struggles in space and coverage which is a death blow if you want to make it in today’s league. I don’t think it was injury as much as staff’s saw what they saw on tape and they exposed it. Down hill and closing the gap on blitz were his strengths.
 
James Pearce JR is the best EDGE rusher in the draft.

Too many people fall in love with the Penn ST EDGE hype every year & I get it, but, JPJ has been the most dominant pure pass rusher in CFB the last 2 years.

And he's only scratched the surface.

Super high upside.
If he can finish sacks ever, it’s definitely possible. I doubt he ends up being the best though. Also very unimpressed by his jumps. Got solid arm length, but nothing special. Pretty strong for his weight. Idk if he did 3-come and just not posted yet but if he didn’t that’s disappointing, given his ability to actually dip hips around OTs is one of bigger question marks about him. Plus you got supposed character issues…. He wins so much off jumping snaps and his elite get-off (which his 40 and 10th Ed split shows)….

I wouldn’t pick him and his potential over some other EDGEs in this class who also have similar high potential and higher floors.
 
Advertisement
OK, so as u know I’ve pretty accurate on where our players will be drafted simply b/c of the connections I have in the industry. Mauigoa proved one thing I’ve always felt: 2023 v. 2024 were two different players. When he’s downhill, he plays fast; when he’s in coverage, he’s slow.

Here’s what I think after Day 1:

Cam - Rd 1
Baron - Rd 3-4
Mauigoa - Rd 4-5

Will wait to see the others, but Cam is a sure 1st Rd. Baron & Mauigoa did decently in the drills, but game film will show guys playing slower during ACC competition. While Baron tested as an above avg. athlete, his time at UTenn & Miami showed a propensity to fall off when competition stiffened.

Mauigoa tested as an avg. athlete, & his film will show him great on blitzes, great down hill, but ann absolute a liability in open coverage. This will drop his draft grade. Frankly, if Mauigoa would’ve came out last yr w/ these same testing #’s, he would’ve been a 3rd early 4th Rd guy. He actually hurt his stock coming back.
 
James Pearce JR is the best EDGE rusher in the draft.

Too many people fall in love with the Penn ST EDGE hype every year & I get it, but, JPJ has been the most dominant pure pass rusher in CFB the last 2 years.

And he's only scratched the surface.

Super high upside.
Ability isn't the concern with him.

It's more that he appears to be a complete moron.
 
Advertisement
Advertisement
Back
Top