The Falcons were going to make sure they addressed their pass rush issues this offseason.
Atlanta doubled down in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, selecting Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker at No. 15 and then trading back into the first round to land Tennessee edge rusher James Pearce Jr. at No. 26 via a deal with the Los Angeles Rams.
But that opportunity nearly slipped away — thanks to the other team in Los Angeles.
The Chargers held the No. 22 overall pick, just four spots ahead of the Falcons’ selection of Pearce. According to Bolt Beat’s Jason Reed, the Chargers were in discussions with several teams about trading down from that spot. While the Philadelphia Eagles were widely reported as one suitor, Reed points to another team with a specific target in mind: the Detroit Lions.
Citing a report from ESPN’s Dan Graziano, Reed notes that Lions general manager Brad Holmes said Detroit attempted to trade up in the first round to land an edge rusher but failed to do so.
“There is one prominent name who was on the board when the Chargers were on the clock that can lead us to this conclusion: James Pearce,” Reed wrote. “The Atlanta Falcons sent a haul to trade down to the No. 26 pick to take Pearce.”
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Had the Lions successfully traded up with the Chargers, the Falcons might never have had the chance to secure one of the draft’s top edge defenders. Reed argues that with other edge-needy teams and positional fits accounted for — like Green Bay locked in on Matthew Golden and the Giants trading up for quarterback Jaxson Dart — Detroit likely saw the Chargers at No. 22 as their best shot.
But the Chargers didn’t budge. They ultimately held onto the pick and selected North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton, a move that cleared the way for Atlanta’s aggressive jump to land Pearce.
Pearce, who recorded 7.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss in his final season at Tennessee, is already being viewed as a foundational piece in Atlanta’s rebuilt front seven. Falcons reporter Tori McElhaney highlighted Pearce’s fit within the defense shortly after the draft.
“Call him an edge rusher. Call him a linebacker. Call him a hybrid of the two. Whatever you call him, just make sure you use the word 'versatile' when describing his play, because that's exactly what it is,” McElhaney wrote.
It’s a move that could prove pivotal for the Falcons. Pearce brings speed, power, and positional flexibility — a rare combination for a team that’s long needed a disruptive presence off the edge. Thanks to the Chargers standing pat — and the Lions’ failed push — Atlanta got their guy.