Six fan bases seem to think James Pearce Jr. is going to be their first-round pick
Once draft season is in full swing, one of the most popular football websites around is Pro Football Focus’ Mock Draft Simulator. There, fans spend hours crafting mock drafts, either for their team or the league as a whole.
On Monday, PFF released a list of each team’s most-selected player, generally who their most popular selection is in the first round. For the Green Bay Packers, it’s defensive end James Pearce Jr. of Tennesse, who reportedly took a pre-draft visit with the team.
Here’s what PFF has to say about the pass-rusher:
Pearce is the kind of athlete with the production and disruption scores you don’t let out of the first round. His twitchy movements show difference-making NFL traits that can be situational at worst and All-Pro at best.
The Packers could clearly use an extra pass-rusher going into 2025, considering that they haven’t added anyone to their room. While they’ve made a coaching change on the defensive line, firing Jason Rebrovich to hire DeMarcus Covington, they still return Rashan Gary, Kingsley Enagbare, Lukas Van Ness and Brenton Cox Jr. as their two-deep this season.
If you’re hoping that Green Bay is locked into Pearce, though, here’s some bad news: Pearce was also the most-drafted prospect for five other teams on the mock draft simulator. Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders fans apparently think they’re in a good position to select the SEC defender, too. So maybe don’t count your chickens before they hatch.