Falcons' James Pearce Jr. Reportedly Was Off 'Multiple' NFL Draft Boards Over Maturity

James Pearce Jr. was a "divisive figure" in the 2025 NFL draft before the Atlanta Falcons traded up to draft him at No. 26, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.

Fowler reported Wednesday that multiple NFL teams had Pearce off their draft boards due to "maturity concerns."

One NFC executive told Fowler they were concerned the Falcons "gave up a first-rounder for a player with character concerns."

"But Atlanta spent significant time with the player in the predraft process, vetted any concerns and feels good about his ability to assimilate to the NFL," Fowler wrote.

The Falcons drafted Jalon Walker at No. 15, then traded a package including a 2026 first-rounder to the Los Angeles Rams in order to select Pearce.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported after the draft that the Falcons would have been willing to draft Pearce at No. 15 had Walker already been off the board.

Pearce racked up 17.5 sacks over his last two college seasons and clocked a 4.47-second 40-yard dash at the scouting combine in February.

Assistant general manager Kyle Smith praised Pearce after the draft as having "explosive, get-off-the-ball speed, natural pass rush, feel for the rush, really natural with his hands."

Smith added that the Falcons weren't considering the trade as giving up a future first-round pick, but rather moving the first-round selection up one year.

"You always need multiple pressure players. If we were going into next year, we were hoping that a Jaylen Walker would be there next year, a James Pearce would be there next year, to take another pressure player," Smith said. "Well, this year, we're sitting there, and we've got an opportunity."

The Athletic's Bruce Feldman reported on April 21 that he had spoken with NFL coaches who were "concerned about [Pearce's] maturity and attitude."

One defensive line coach told Feldman: “That kid is a first-round talent, but the stuff you hear (about his maturity) scares me.”

General manager Terry Fontenot told reporters that he and coach Raheem Morris had met with Pearce and his mother in Charlotte before the draft.

"We want to know who we're bringing in this building, right,. because they're representing us, they're representing the Falcons," Fontenot said.

However, ESPN's Marc Raimondi reported that "the Falcons were confident in their vetting process even before the meeting and didn't put a ton of credence into the rumors."

When asked after the Falcons' first-round selection if he would be entering the NFL with a chip on his shoulder, Pearce told reporters, "It’s always a chip on my shoulder. I love the game. I’m ready to just prove that day in, day out.”

Pearce is set to join his new team this weekend when the Falcons' rookie minicamp begins on May 9.