For decades, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has been one of the most vocal and opinionated figures in NFL Draft analysis.
In many ways, Mad Mel invented the “draft guru” profession.
But in a rare moment of uncertainty, Kiper admitted he’s unsure how to evaluate Tennessee edge rusher James Pearce Jr. ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft.
While discussing his latest mock draft with Field Yates on ESPN’s First Draft, Kiper acknowledged that Pearce is one of the very few prospects he just can’t pin down.
“There’s some players – I think every evaluator will admit this – there’s some players you just don’t know,” Kiper admitted.
“You really can’t feel strongly one way or the other about a player. You almost have to throw your hands up and say, ‘I don’t get this. I can’t make a strong argument to take him or not take him.’ James Pearce Jr. is one of those guys.”
Pearce showed flashes of dominance at Tennessee, recording 10 sacks, two forced fumbles, and a pick-six in 2023, leading some – including Kiper – to view him as a potential No. 1 overall pick.
However, instead of taking another leap forward, he posted a modest 7.5 sacks in 2024, leaving scouts puzzled.
Kiper acknowledged that Pearce displayed the tools of a high-level pass rusher but lacked the week-to-week consistency teams want in a first-round prospect.
“He did get after things, and he was disruptive against the run. He did chase, he did hustle,” Kiper said. “But you didn’t see what you thought we would see.
“We didn’t get it on a week-to-week basis. And when that happens, you wonder, ‘Am I too low? Am I too high? Or should I just say, ‘I don’t understand this player at all’?”
Kiper’s uncertainty isn’t unique. Opinions on Pearce’s draft stock vary wildly.
Pro Football Focus projects Pearce as a top-10 pick, pegging him at No. 9 overall to the New Orleans Saints. Meanwhile, NFL.com analysts Lance Zierlein and Dan Parr have him sliding to the end of the first round, predicting the Philadelphia Eagles will select him at No. 32. (Of course.)
Even Kiper himself doesn’t know where Pearce will land, admitting he has no clue where the young pass rusher belongs in the draft hierarchy.
“I have not really had a good grasp on where he belongs in terms of the first round of this draft,” Kiper said.
With the draft approaching, teams will have to decide whether Pearce’s raw talent outweighs his inconsistencies. But if Kiper – the Godfather of draft analysis – doesn’t have a strong opinion, it’s safe to say Pearce remains one of the biggest wild cards in this year’s class.
What are your thoughts on Pearce as a prospect? … At the end of the day, where will he end up going in the draft???
