Pearce was drafted No. 26 overall by the Falcons after the organization traded with the Los Angeles Rams to get back into the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Terrin Waack

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. The player the Falcons traded back up into the first round to get has signed his rookie deal, according to a reportfrom NFL Network national insider Ian Rapoport.

Fellow first-round pick Jalon Walkerput pen to paperas the 2025 first-year class began its three-day rookie minicamp at the Flowery Branch practice facility, and now Pearce joins him in inking the deal.

Safety Xavier Watts, defensive back Billy Bowman Jr. and offensive tackle Jack Nelsoneach signed their rookie contracts Friday.

Learn more about Pearce below.

JAMES PEARCE JR. | Round 1, Pick 26

Pearce's rookie deal is estimated to be $16.78 million in total value,according to OverTheCap.com. He would carry a cap number of $3.05 million in 2025 before topping out in 2028 at $5.34 million.

Height: 6-5

Weight: 245 lbs

School: University of Tennessee

2024 Stats: 13 starts | 38 tackles | 7.5 sacks | 13 tackles for loss | 1 forced fumble | 1 fumble recovery | 55 total pressures

• Click to view complete college stats

Quotes

General manager Terry Fontenot:"As a pass rusher, just look at the numbers. Even if you don't watch tape, look at the numbers: highest pressure rate in football. That's great. It's been consistent for two years. I mean this is a productive player. He can get off the ball, he's explosive, he's sudden, he's twitchy, he plays with violence. So, whether it's in the run game or the pass game, he's disruptive in that way."

Head coach Raheem Morris: "I can vividly remember sitting in the office talking with Pearce about some of the things he wants to do with his hand usage and finding ways to get better and some of the moves that he wants to use and the obsession he has with rushing."

Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich:"If you looked at the best rushers in this draft, you could have made a case that he was the best one from a pure edge element. So, we had conviction in that. We did a lot of work with on him on the field and off the field and felt great about the man that he is and the player that he is."

Pearce:"I just want to prove it to myself that I'm one of the best and I can rock with the best."

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