1st Mock Draft- James Pearce Jr

[Midas]

#15 to the Falcons
”The only concern about Pearce is whether his size (243 pounds) is enough for teams to see him as a true three-down option. If they do, don’t be surprised to see Pearce land closer to the top 10. His ability to win with speed off the edge is nearly unmatched in this class.”

Please God

 

[The_topis_Rocky89]

Why

Why has Sampson fallen so far?

Probably Fumbles

 

[LittleVol]

Said it before. He seems to be a bit of a one trick pony. Time the snap and speed rush. Gonna need more than that at the pro level.

This is completely wrong.
He needed to improve in run support coming into 2024. - he added 12 more tackles from the previous year.
Forced a goal line fumble against Florida (power run play) that proved to be the difference in the game.

Made many open field tackles. Had a nice one against Ohio State where The Buckeye did a counter PA and the pass out into the flat. Pearce somehow guarded the counter run PA and still had the speed to get out into the flat to make the play.

And was still a factor in the pass rush department. On a heavily rotated Dline.

You weren’t watching him where it mattered.
Best defender Tennessee has had In years.

 

[boeninghaus]

Probably Fumbles

yeah 5 in three years is definitely why

 

[brockytop]

Said it before. He seems to be a bit of a one trick pony. Time the snap and speed rush. Gonna need more than that at the pro level.

Byron Young says hello.

 

[Vol-e-ball]

He needs to get stronger and add about 10 lb of muscle. The NFL specializes in this. He'll be fine.

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

Why

Why has Sampson fallen so far?

I have not seen one legit mock draft that shows Sampson on the 6th nor Pearce on the second.

 

[SamuraiVol74]

He should be a mid-1st rounder as projected. His speed and ability to reach the QB in and of itself warrants that projection. I get the size concern but Robert Mathis also was thought to be too small to play DE and had a decent career as both a DE and OLB because of the same traits Pearce has. I think Pearce has the ability and the makeup to be something special in the NFL.

 

[General Jack]

Better or worse than a Darrel “WGWTFA” Taylor?

Darrell Taylor has had a very nice NFL career. Better longevity than most.

 

[wmcovol]

Watching Tennessee history, he might go second round.

Vols have a run with edge rushers in NFL.

 

[Orange defense]

Needs to come back and get revenge on Georgia, Ohio State, etc…

 

[loosecannon]

Pierce mid to late first round is ideal. I’d love to see him some place like a Pittsburg or Baltimore or anywhere that knows how to use rushers and could put him in position to be successful. A lot of these early picks get put in bad situations.

Running backs are hard to project. I could see DS 4-6. It just depends on if the position goes on a run or not. It is a really RB heavy draft, so it feels like more of a crapshoot than normal

 

[The_topis_Rocky89]

yeah 5 in three years is definitely why

How many this year?

 

[Jaxon_Vol2017]

Just curious, why hasn't he declared for the draft yet? What's he waiting on?

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

Just curious, why hasn't he declared for the draft yet? What's he waiting on?

Good question. Wonder if he is negotiating an NIL deal to come back?

 

[Orangecrush#27]

I think we have over valued Sampson just because he’s ours if we’re being honest. He isn’t a “once in a lifetime, generational type back”. Sure he was great for us but he didn’t do anything outlandish. Each NFL team probably already has 1-2 backs on the squad as talented or nearly as talented. Add in that the position isn’t as valued as it once was and he falls to late rounds. He will likely fall to a team and be used along with another 1-2 backs per game. Like most teams are now doing.

He only broke a record that stood at TN for a hundred years . Third in sec TDS for a RB. No matter what he’s going to be a good player in the NFL. Second, third, or hell even 6th like some of you are talking. Which is ********. He will be the first option on his team by the end of his second year, he’s that good, and that competitive.

 

[rocytop2624]

Why

Why has Sampson fallen so far?

He should have came back.

 

[rocytop2624]

He needs to get stronger and add about 10 lb of muscle. The NFL specializes in this. He'll be fine.

He will do that with age.

 

[DaddyChad]

Ok, then. Why is he not projected higher?

RB position just isn’t highly valued anymore. Bit undersized compared to other backs in this class, had a lot of fumbles. That’s the cons part. I do think when people see his speed then look at his tape vs competition he will climb on a lot of people’s boards but I still think he will be down a ways in the draft.

 

[fossilfiction]

Just has more to do with the position he plays in today's NFL game. The days are over where there is a run on top running backs early in the 1st round. I don't get it, but this is the trend and I don't agree with this either. I think you always take the best football player available when picking, unless of course, it is a need that you absolutely don't need.

This is all hogwash about running backs not going high.
Jahmyr Gibbs (12), Bijan Robinson (8), Saquon Barkley (2), Christian McCaffrey (8), Lenoard Fournette (4), Exekiel Elliott (4), Melvin Gordon (15), Todd Gurley (10), Trent Richardson (3), and that is just the top of the first round draft. Even more names exsit between the mid to end of the first round.
Quality running backs still get drafted high.

 

[easttnbuck]

Not sure honestly. But he's not even one of Mel Kiper's top 10 RB's, though I have seen him climbing some NFL mock drafts lately.

I've read in a few places his pass pro isn't good at the next level. Not sure that's enough to crater his stock tho.

 

[EastTNVol6240]

He only broke a record that stood at TN for a hundred years . Third in sec TDS for a RB. No matter what he’s going to be a good player in the NFL. Second, third, or hell even 6th like some of you are talking. Which is ********. He will be the first option on his team by the end of his second year, he’s that good, and that competitive.

Calm down Carl. No one said he wasn’t good. But he’s also not jeanty. Unless you’ve got your orange glasses on. I think he can have a great career in the NFL. But he’s not going to be a guy getting 30 carries a game either. That’s just the nfl now, along with he never showed much as a pass catcher. Part of that was coaches not using him properly imo.

 

[Erich]

Kind of reminds me of Todd Kelly. Kelly was super fast with good moves but not super big. He got drafted high by SF but ended up getting pushed around by bigger guys.

JPJ should come back, grow into his frame, and win us a natty

 

[Orangecrush#27]

Calm down Carl. No one said he wasn’t good. But he’s also not jeanty. Unless you’ve got your orange glasses on. I think he can have a great career in the NFL. But he’s not going to be a guy getting 30 carries a game either. That’s just the nfl now, along with he never showed much as a pass catcher. Part of that was coaches not using him properly imo.

.. he’s not jeanty.. god I hate this argument. Put Sampson in Jeanty league and imagine his numbers , put Jeanty in the sec. Smh I can tell you’re rlly young. But but he’s not Jeanty !!

 

[EastTNVol6240]

.. he’s not jeanty.. god I hate this argument. Put Sampson in Jeanty league and imagine his numbers , put Jeanty in the sec. Smh I can tell you’re rlly young. But but he’s not Jeanty !!

Yeah the SEC is really killing it this post season. You might not like it but sometimes better talent ends up in a lesser conference. This wouldn’t be the first time. It’s really laughable of you to write of his stats just because of where he plays. I can think of some adjectives to describe your statements as well. Young ain’t one of them. It’s hilarious when you guys think we have the best just because we’re vols.