One stat could separate James Pearce from other pass rushers for Commanders
The Washington Commanders need help at edge rusher. Washington was linked to Myles Garrett before he inked a new extension with the Cleveland Browns. The potential pursuit of Garrett was hypothetical anyway, as Cleveland made it clear he would never be available.
The Commanders have also been linked with Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson. No one in the NFL has more sacks over the past two seasons than Hendrickson. While Cincinnati permitted Hendrickson to seek a trade as it focused on contract extensions for receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, it sounds like the two sides want to work out a long-term extension.
Several pass rushers were available in free agency, but many had question marks. Whether it was injury questions, players remaining with current teams, or the prices too high for Washington's tastes, it now turns its attention entirely to the 2025 NFL draft.
The edge rusher class is considered a deep group, which should allow the Commanders to land a good player at No. 29 overall. Names such as Abdul Carter, Jalon Walker, Mykel Williams, James Pearce Jr., Mike Green, Nic Scourton, and Donovan Ezeiruaku headline the class. Carter is in contention for the No. 1 pick, while Walker and Williams should land somewhere inside the top 15. As for the rest, it's anyone's guess.
Pearce is a name to watch for the Commanders. Many mock drafts have him falling to Washington, which is not necessarily indicative of his talent. Daniel Jeremiah has him ranked as his No. 22 overall player.
Pearce is a long, lean edge rusher. The Volunteers moved him around in their scheme and he created havoc from a variety of entry points. His first three steps are very explosive when he’s rushing off the edge. For such a lean-framed player, he can generate a lot of pocket push with his bull rush. When he’s used as a walk-around blitzer, he exposes the lack of athleticism along the interior of offensive lines. They clear the runway for him and he goes to work. His pressure rate stands out among his peers in this class. Against the run, he plays bigger than his weight would suggest. He sets a firm edge, especially against tight ends. Overall, Pearce has double-digit sack potential and should make an immediate impact in the league.
Commanders head coach Dan Quinn will get the most out of a player with Pearce's athleticism, length, and raw traits. If Pearce's physical gifts weren't enough to convince you, Ben Linsey of PFF produced a statistic that has Pearce in elite company.
James Pearce Jr. and Abdul Carter would have the 2nd and 3rd highest college PFF pass-rush win rates of any 1st round edge rusher drafted since 2017, trailing only Nick Bosa. pic.twitter.com/L31qazhHEF
— Ben Linsey (@benlinsey_) March 19, 2025
Pass rush win rate is a significant stat. That's elite company for Pearce. It shows that he gets the job done consistently as a pass rusher.
Pearce has done this playing in the SEC against college football's top competition. A two-time first-team All-SEC selection, Pearce has a combined 27.5 tackles for loss and 17.5 sacks over the last two seasons.
Pearce has everything you want in a pass rusher. And Washington could use an edge rusher that could make an immediate impact in 2025. That's Pearce. If he's available at No. 29, it will be interesting to see what Adam Peters and the Commanders do.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Commanders need a pass rusher and James Pearce Jr. could be the guy
Topics
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