Atlanta Falcons’ James Pearce Jr. Shatters Records in Stellar Rookie Season
The Atlanta Falcons have showcased a spirited performance in their last five games, boasting a record of 3-2. This recent success includes back-to-back victories against the struggling Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the rebuilding Arizona Cardinals. These games have coincided with Kirk Cousins stepping in as the starting quarterback, which has occurred during the more favorable segment of the Falcons’ schedule. This stretch also featured a win against the New Orleans Saints, who were languishing with a 2-8 record at the time, alongside a disappointing loss to the New York Jets, marking the Jets’ sole win since early November.
Power Rankings Surge
Despite the mixed results, the Falcons are gaining traction in ESPN’s Week 17 NFL Power Rankings, moving up three spots from No. 24 to No. 21. They now sit just ahead of the Kansas City Chiefs, a franchise that seems to be navigating the twilight of its recent dominance. As teams scramble to position themselves for the upcoming NFL Draft in April, the Falcons are making headlines, particularly with the spotlight on their standout rookie.
Rookie of the Year Contender
ESPN’s focus this week centers on each team’s rookie of the year, and for the Falcons, the conversation overwhelmingly favors James Pearce Jr. While fellow rookies like edge rusher Jalon Walker and safety Xavier Watts have also delivered commendable performances, Pearce has emerged as a clear frontrunner. His impressive tally of 8.5 sacks not only leads all rookies but also marks the highest figure for a Falcons player since 2019 and the most by a rookie since the official recording of the statistic began in 1982.
Pearce’s consistency has been notable; he has recorded at least half a sack in seven consecutive games. His sack rate stands at an impressive 3%, ranking him 10th in the NFL. Among his peers, Pearce excels in several categories, including sacks, sack rate, and quarterback pressure rate, which he leads at 14%.
A Trade That Paid Off
The Falcons secured Pearce with their 2026 first-round draft pick, trading a second and third-round selection to the Los Angeles Rams to move up and select him at No. 26. Currently, that pick is projected to fall at No. 11 for the Rams in April. It’s hard to imagine Pearce lasting until that selection if he were to re-enter the draft. This trade’s relevance will likely be a hot topic when the Falcons face the Rams at Mercedes-Benz Stadium for Monday Night Football. Expect game announcers to laud the decision, while draft analysts may conveniently forget their previous critiques of the move as the draft approaches.
With Michael Penix Jr. facing a challenging rehabilitation from injury and Cousins set to incur the sixth-highest salary cap hit in the NFL next season, the Falcons have pressing questions regarding their quarterback position heading into 2026. However, there’s no doubt that the acquisition of Pearce, along with Watts, has fortified a Falcons defense that was in dire need of rejuvenation.
