Edge Rusher James Pearce Jr (Draft Crush) (3 Viewers)

[Saintaholik]

In the midst of doing my film studies, I have finally came too edge rushers. Any other year it would be the deepest in the draft. That accolade goes to IOL this year IMO.

Anyway, Man I have a draft crush on James Pearce Jr. One of my favorite prospects in a while! I have a couple of those this year!

He's very polished and has incredible length and instincts. He rushes with a plan, which you love to see from college edge rushers. Super productive player. Hes long and a little lighter then you would hope, but plays so much bigger than his size. He's explosive off the line, and actually generates a really good bull rush. He can attack you in many different ways.

He's def not the most athletic Edge in the class. That may be Mykell Williams, ( who i think the Saints would actually draft). He's way more polished than Mykell. (Mike Green is a great athlete as well)

I don't think you can mess up going with James Pearce Jr. His ceiling may not be as high as Abdul Carter and Mykell Williams, but he's a franchise DE.

Some may worry he's a little light, but his frame can definitely support more weight, and like I said he plays bigger than his frame.

Im not against a player like Mykell, I just feel Pearce is a lot safer pick.

What a draft, in the areas that the Saints need. They can def fill several holes with premium players at edge, IOL, and Defensive interior. I wouldnt be against them drafting a WR like McMillan if he's there, or Luther Burden a little later. WR just isn't very deep this year, I do like the top 5 though.

Anyway, I posted some JPJ highlights for yall to watch to get a glimpse of the type of player he can be at the next level

 

[jesusfish]

Would you take him at 9? He's in my cloud at 9. Mykel is not.

 

[Saintaholik]

Would you take him at 9? He's in my cloud at 9. Mykel is not.

I absolutely would, I do think Mykell goes around the top 10 as well.

Just how Travon Walker was drafted 1 a couples years ago. Mykell is looked at in that same way.

Of course not #1, but there are a lot of similarities between him and walker.

Every tool, just raw

But hey give me Pearce over Mykell everyday of the week.

Is there a chance 3 years from now Mykel could be a better player?

Maybe... I'll take my chances

 

[RJS]

I've read that NFL teams view him similarly to Brian Burns coming out and expect him to go in the top half of round 1. He's a really good player.

If they decide to wait for an edge player, I like what I've seen from Jah Joyner of Minnesota. He's a long, fast prospect that can do some things similar to Pearce, He might make it to day 3.

 

[WhoDat?DrewDat]

Im not against a player like Mykell, I just feel Pearce is a lot safer pick.

I am.

Mykell sucks.

 

[Saintaholik]

I've read that NFL teams view him similarly to Brian Burns coming out and expect him to go in the top half of round 1. He's a really good player.

If they decide to wait for an edge player, I like what I've seen from Jah Joyner of Minnesota. He's a long, fast prospect that can do some things similar to Pearce, He might make it to day 3.

I like the Brian Burns comp alot!
Very similar coming out of college.

Some are worried about JPJ's strength bc of his weight in a 4-3 defense, but I'm not.

I definitely think he's going to add some bulk, but he plays bigger than his size, and he's tall and lanky.

He lead the SEC in pressures the last 2 years. Usually a pretty good sign. When you open up the tape you can definitely see why.

He's Edge #2 for me, and the gap between him and Abdul Carter is closer than many think IMO

 

[TruSaint]

I like the Brian Burns comp alot!
Very similar coming out of college.

Some are worried about JPJ's strength bc of his weight in a 4-3 defense, but I'm not.

I definitely think he's going to add some bulk, but he plays bigger than his size, and he's tall and lanky.

He lead the SEC in pressures the last 2 years. Usually a pretty good sign. When you open up the tape you can definitely see why.

He's Edge #2 for me, and the gap between him and Abdul Carter is closer than many think IMO

Not to mention if we swapped to a 3-4 he would be the perfect fit.

 

[DSnfla]

Would you take him at 9? He's in my cloud at 9. Mykel is not.

Really the only DL I'd take @ 9 is Carter or Graham. If neither are there and T -Mac is gone trade down to 13 and get an extra 3rd and take Warren

 

[Joodas Avila]

Would you take him at 9? He's in my cloud at 9. Mykel is not.

Yeah, not a fan at all of either of the Georgia guys. Id pass on both. I just think there’s way too much projection & not enoigh production to take a dude that high. Ive been saying it in every draft thread ive posted in. After Abdul Carter, the next best EDGE in my opinion is Mike Green from Marshall. That dude is literally a more athletic & explosive version of Laiatu Latu. He’s quietly being rated in the 20s/early 30s on a lot of the current big boards. But once the combine & testing phase of the process begins, i have zero doubts that Green will fly up boards & become a top 10 prospect.

In other words…With the 9th pick in the 2025 NFL draft, the New Orleans Saints select, Mike Green, EDGE, Marshall.

 

[Rouxble]

Some are worried about JPJ's strength bc of his weight in a 4-3 defense, but I'm not.

Whether a player can succeed in a base defensive package shouldn’t stop a team from considering them. Teams were in base on only 23% of snaps last year. The true base defensive look in today’s NFL continues to be 4-2-5 (or 2-4-5), with teams playing nickel on 66% of snaps. Even Fangio’s famed 3-4 only played 3-4 on 14% of snaps.

 

[TruSaint]

Whether a player can succeed in a base defensive package shouldn’t stop a team from considering them. Teams were in base on only 23% of snaps last year. The true base defensive look in today’s NFL continues to be 4-2-5 (or 2-4-5), with teams playing nickel on 66% of snaps. Even Fangio’s famed 3-4 only played 3-4 on 14% of snaps.

Nailed it. What we need is an edge opposite of granderson and a nose tackle that offers somewhat pass rush ability. I think Tyleik Williams would be perfect for this.

 

[MikeyF]

I really liked the way Sai'vion Jones 6-6, 280 practiced all week for the Senior Bowl & the way he played in the Senior Bowl!
He should be available in the 2nd - 4th round.

 

[OzzieSaint]

I like Pearce, I think he goes in the 10-15 range, would not be opposed to taking him at 9 depending on who else was available on the board.

 

[TruSaint]

I really liked the way Sai'vion Jones 6-6, 280 practiced all week for the Senior Bowl & the way he played in the Senior Bowl!
He should be available in the 2nd - 4th round.

He’s working his way up as a second round pick. Perfect strong side DE and cam replacement

 

[MikeyF]

Mike Green Blows Up Josh Conerly OT Oregon