The Bucs And James Pearce, Jr.
April 11th, 2025
Tennessee edge rusher James Pearce, Jr.
Joe’s going here tonight because a friend of Todd Bowles thinks athletic freak edge rusher James Pearce, Jr. is likely to be on the Bucs’ first-round radar.
About 10 days ago, Joe witnessed Bowles sitting with SiriusXM NFL Radio voice Pat Kirwan, the former Jets linebackers coach and personnel chief, at the NFL owners meetings in Palm Beach.
Today, Kirwan put Pearce on the Bucs’ roster during his on-air mock draft.
Does it mean anything? Pearce is all over draft boards. On many, the University of Tennessee star a falling second-round pick.
Others are mesmerized with his NFL Scouting Combine workout. And Joe must say, it was damn impressive. What a beast this guy is, fast and fluid at 6-5, 245 pounds.
Pearce ranked second in the SEC in pressures this season and led the SEC with 10 sacks in 2023. He also had a very impressive pick-6 in that season came after he (wait for it) dropped in coverage. Is there any doubt this guy is a Buccaneer soon?
It’s been alleged that teams think Pearce has maturity and character concerns, but Joe hasn’t read of anything specific. And Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht said this week that he has no problem taking a prospect that might be immature as long as he checks the team’s other boxes.
Pearce is 21 years old.
Did James Pearce Jr.’s Combine performance cement him as a first round pick? đźź @JamesPearceJr10 | @VolFootball pic.twitter.com/T0PsaApqvK
— NFL (@NFL) March 4, 2025
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April 11th, 2025 at 9:25 pm
I love the Moving the chains show. The second round pick was a real head scratcher.
April 11th, 2025 at 9:29 pm
As long as they’ve done ALL the due diligence required on the kids character.
The locker room is awesome right now and no need to introduce a cancer. Having said that if it’s just youthful indiscretion the Bucs do have a locker room perhaps capable of mentoring a young talent.
ONE thing is for sure the kid has freakish talent and physical skills.
A 4.5 40!!!! KJ Britt a 4.75 40 a full QUARTER second slower.
“He also had a very impressive pick-6 in that season came after he (wait for it) dropped in coverage.”
IF the Bucs get a strong edge rush who cares is sometimes some of them drop into coverage? The problem with dropping into coverage last season was the total LACK of talent in the middle of the field and the inability to get an edge rush.
I really like this guy if his head is in the right place. And by that I’m not talking about extreme head cases like AB…they’re obvious…I mean the DW45’s who had talent like this guy and helped greatly in the SB win but is lacking in true character. No need to find a great talent again only to watch him mentally implode.
April 11th, 2025 at 9:36 pm
A lot of us are gonna be in for a surprise come draft night I think.
A month ago, I thought I knew the pick or at least had it narrowed down.
Today… no idea, just hope a stud defender falls in our lap.
April 11th, 2025 at 9:53 pm
Speeding, driving on a suspended license. Not real issues imo as far as character goes.
Jason and Todd will figure it out.
April 11th, 2025 at 10:13 pm
Dig deeper.
April 11th, 2025 at 10:33 pm
Let’s see…
April 11th, 2025 at 10:34 pm
As I’ve posted a couple of times.. reports out of Tennessee claimed he was “undeniably uncoachable”….
Tennessee DE James Pearce Jr. reportedly has the “worst character report” of any player in this year’s class, per Cory Kinnan.
Pearce, who lit up the combine with a 4.47 forty at 6-5, 245lbs, has raised some red flags due to perceived character concerns.
“I was told that the Tennessee football program could not only breathe easier once Pearce left campus but that his pitch count in SEC play was not injury related. Pearce was seen as undeniably uncoachable and as a player with one foot out the door already this season, giving his coaches little incentive to put him on the field full-time,” Kinnan wrote.
Only thing to consider would be the source I suppose.. Kinnan appears to be a Kiper type.. apparently works or worked for SI.
Sure seems to have a lot of detail. FWIW.
April 11th, 2025 at 10:38 pm
For a pass rusher??
Speed rushers have one move speed
Jts clone
April 11th, 2025 at 10:59 pm
Eh
April 11th, 2025 at 11:03 pm
Your Tampa Bay Buccaneers are going… TE in Round 1.
YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST.
The pick will be either Warren or Loveland.
All this “defense” talk in Round 1 is a smokescreen. Despite some promising tightends on the roster, the team is lacking a dominant TE for the offense. Otton has had nice moments, but Licht knows he needs a great TE for this offense to truly be one of the best in the NFL.
April 11th, 2025 at 11:39 pm
I’m unsure if that’s sarcasm. I don’t agree with the pick, but definitely into the idea of Warren, but he ain’t coming to us. Otton carried the team when his number was called on. His hands are getting better (less drops) and solid. Not top shelf, but definitely still shows the potential to get better. Curious to see Durham and culp take the next step.
April 12th, 2025 at 12:47 am
Pearce sounds like the opposite of a Buccaneer man. The Bucs won’t draft this guy unless those uncoachable allegations are hogwash. Assuming they’re not, he’s probably not even on their board.
Ezeiruaku.
April 12th, 2025 at 1:10 am
Not gonna happen. No way this guy is on Jason’s draft board.
April 12th, 2025 at 4:53 am
He may drop to the 2nd or even the 3rd round. The Bucs won’t touch a character concern and will do their homework on that. Been there done that. Need to keep the locker room strong and positive, no drama.
April 12th, 2025 at 6:02 am
Pearce???
There was a very disturbing video out there of his discusion with one of the arresting officers that should be of real concern to all the citizens of the great city of Tampa. Not so much the arrest that matters to me but his attitude during it and his words. It has more than likely been scrubbed from the good old internet by now by his lawyer/agent though. Dude is a Thug and none too bright. Amazing that Tennesee gave him a shot to come back after being kicked off the team. Lost all respect for their HC for that move. Pearce said that in his neighborhood they shoot cops. To paraphrase. I have recently read that the attitude has not changed. You can do much better Jason.
April 12th, 2025 at 6:29 am
He is not the BPA at 19. If they take him, JL is heading back to his old ways.
April 12th, 2025 at 7:41 am
Just cuz you keep saying it Trask to the future doesn’t make it true
April 12th, 2025 at 7:44 am
Hmmm. Sounds worrisome.
April 12th, 2025 at 7:49 am
Going into this season, I thought for sure he was a lock to be a top 5 pick. He’s freakishly athletic and reminds me a bit of a faster Aldon Smith. Sort of crazy to think that he may not even go in the first two rounds now. I’d think that if he fell all the way to the end of the second or early third round, he wouldn’t give it his all and would feel disrespected and better than his draft slot. I’d probably pass all together at this point, which is a real shame. He was a game wrecker for the Vols.
April 12th, 2025 at 8:25 am
Big gamble trying to fix bad behavior by dumbing a ton of money on that ( insert any name)
The Bucs have been building a Buc culture and it’s been paying dividends, keep that model going!
April 12th, 2025 at 9:00 am
When you heard all these things you wonder what is true or false. The fact that there are more than a few instances being reported makes your ears prick up. Granted youth can = bad choices and people can grow but the selfishness or entitlement aspect I think is what Licht and Co. are looking at. I wonder if he’s getting the “Sapp” treatment because from what I hear from him he seems very pleasant. When you read about Shavon and his character and work ethic combined with his talent that’s where I think Tampa’s looking and some have him moving into the first rd. I still think like Rhonde said that the Bucs need a big a** truck in the middle.
April 12th, 2025 at 9:16 am
OK I’ve seen enough comments from guys here I respect to be scared away.
April 12th, 2025 at 10:06 am
I’m as critical of Bowles as anyone. But one of his strengths building team culture and the locker room. If the locker room is strong enough it should be able to provide a good support system for a person that is perceived as selfish. This guy is an athletic freak and can get at the qb. If Bowles and licht think we can handle him then by all means.
Personally I’d just take the kid from Boston college.
April 12th, 2025 at 10:17 am
This guy seems to check the boxes. Who ever is picked in the first round best be a starter, an instant impact player, and selfless (a team first) player. Let’s get the best player available for the defense whether an outside linebacker, inside linebacker, or corner/nickel.
April 12th, 2025 at 10:50 am
As soon as Joe responded to GoneGator with “Dig Deeper” Pearce was off my board. As a matter of fact, he was so far off I can’t even see his dumb arse with binoculars.
April 12th, 2025 at 12:06 pm
Watched a number of Tennessee games this past season Pearce seemed to be almost none existent in a lot of games this year. I don’t know if its attitude or lack of motivation. Before this last season I would have believed him to be a top 10 to 15 pick after this season maybe a mid second round.
April 12th, 2025 at 12:08 pm
just take Emeka and go D the rest of the draft, maybe a C/G hybrid late late
April 12th, 2025 at 12:08 pm
heyjude what about Randy Gregory HAHAHAHAHA
April 12th, 2025 at 3:04 pm
I don’t understand (kinda do) why people equate Randy Gregory with bad character. There was never character concerns with him. Coaches all said he was a team first, good person but had bad social anxiety. Smoking helped it. NFL banned smoking the plant because historically it was used as an excuse to arrest Mexican people to control their movements and lower their labor rates. I personally don’t do it 💨 because it Gives me social anxiety.
April 12th, 2025 at 4:09 pm
We already took one combine athlete in JTMs, that should teach you enough of a lesson.
April 12th, 2025 at 6:12 pm
Its anybody’s guess who we pick at 19. I just want him to be a beast on Defense guys. Instant help. Thats what we need. Lets get this D turned around.
April 12th, 2025 at 9:15 pm
Not for a 1st rd pick. Idk what we are doing 1st rd but I can almost bet we go DBS rd 2 and 3 maybe even again later. We have Dean but he will get hurt so that’s when back up hall will come in but who do we got after him 🤷‍♂️. Also we need another starting safety. I doubt they move smith over. Bowles likes him at nickel and his back up is izen but who back ups izen if he’s go down 🤷‍♂️. Need some starters and depth on defense.
April 12th, 2025 at 9:46 pm
Sooo knowing what you know now about Warren Sapp today would you not draft him at 19? No! Let’s take JTS cause he’s super athletic and a super nice guy 🤮. Yes I would rather take a flier on a player who has an attitude problem than a player that is really athletic and just the right size according to NFL standards but hasn’t proven that they can play football just because he’s a nice guy 🤮. THE END! Yes I will take a junkyard dog over a show dog! There’s never a guarantee on any player you take in the draft but I will always take one with an attitude over an athlete whos a super nice guy 🤮
April 13th, 2025 at 5:16 am
Allbuccedup Says: “heyjude what about Randy Gregory HAHAHAHAHA.”
Lol, I get where you are going. I stuck up for him early on because his situation was entirely different and he knew he had mental health concerns and was trying to treat it with alternative methods vs Opioids. I gave him credit for addressing it. Thinking that the Bucs have learned their lessons on who they bring in. There have been a few other hiccups a long the way. Sadly, it seems as though Pearce already has baggage and drama coming out of college. He could find the perfect fit with a team though. Unsure if the Bucs want to risk our locker room. Been there, done that.
April 13th, 2025 at 6:39 am
Arrested in December for disobeying orders from police after being stopped for speeding and driving on a suspended license
Joe could tell you an unregistered/uninsured driving story about a very prominent Buccaneer that would be considered among the core players of Jason Licht’s successful run. This kind of thing often falls in the “immaturity” category.–Joe