Highly Touted Edge Rusher James Pearce Jr. Lands With Bengals in Mock Draft From The Ringer

Cincinnati could be changing its look on the edge.

Tennessee defensive lineman James Pearce Jr. (27) walks out of the locker room to start the second half of the NCAA college football game against Kentucky on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Knoxville, Tenn. (I've been trying to get this photograph of a single player leaving the Tennessee locker room for a few years but it never worked out quite right until James Pearce Jr. showed up) / Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

CINCINNATI — The Ringer's Danny Kelly released a fresh 2025 NFL mock draft last week and had the Bengals selecting Tennessee edge rusher James Pearce Jr. with the 17th pick.

"The Bengals add some much-needed juice to their pass-rush group, grabbing a twitchy edge defender in Pearce," Kelly wrote. "The former Vols star posted a position-best 4.47-second 40-yard dash over the weekend, showcasing the first-step burst that could make him a disruptive rusher at the next level. Pearce should feature in the team’s pass-rush rotation right away."

Cincinnati may be more inclined to draft thinner, fast-edge rushers in the Al Golden era and Pearce fits that mold at 6-5, 245 pounds.

He is ranked 17th on the consensus big board and sixth among edge rushers.

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