Falcons rookie’s speed, pressure and production reshaped Atlanta’s defense and rewrote the franchise record book
Atlanta’s defense did not just improve this season — it transformed. And at the center of that transformation stands rookie edge rusher James Pearce Jr., whose impact off the edge makes him the clear favorite to win NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Pearce arrived with questions about how quickly his game would translate to the professional level. Those questions disappeared almost immediately. From his first extended snaps, Pearce played with a burst that offenses struggled to account for and a confidence that rarely shows up in first-year defenders. His game-changing speed off the edge altered the timing of entire offenses, forcing quarterbacks to rush reads, abandon progressions and absorb pressure they never saw coming.
The Falcons have searched for a true difference-maker on the edge for years. This season, they found one. Pearce did more than collect sacks; he dictated how opponents built their protection plans. Tackles widened their sets to respect his first step. Tight ends stayed in to chip. Running backs delayed releases to help in pass protection. Even with that extra attention, Pearce consistently won.
Atlanta’s franchise record for team sacks stands as the most obvious evidence of his impact. Records like that are never about one player alone, but this one has Pearce’s fingerprints all over it. His pressure rate changed downs, flipped field position and ended drives. Even when he didn’t finish with a sack, he collapsed pockets, forced errant throws and created opportunities for teammates to clean up plays.
What separates Pearce from other rookies across the league is how complete his influence has been. He didn’t rely on a single move or a favorable matchup. He won with pure speed, bent the edge with balance and flexibility, and showed the power to convert speed into force when tackles overcommitted. Offensive coordinators adjusted week after week, yet the results rarely changed.
That consistent pressure elevated the entire defense. The secondary played faster and more aggressively because the ball came out sooner. Linebackers attacked downhill with confidence, knowing quarterbacks didn’t have time to wait for routes to develop. Third downs became advantages instead of liabilities. The Falcons stopped reacting on defense and started dictating terms.
That is the standard for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. The award is not simply about counting numbers; it is about changing the identity of a unit. Pearce gave Atlanta something it had lacked for far too long — a defender offenses had to fear before the snap.
Plenty of rookies flash. Very few redefine what a defense can be. Pearce did exactly that. His speed off the edge became the engine of Atlanta’s defense and the driving force behind a historic sack total. By season’s end, the conversation should not be close.
James Pearce Jr. didn’t just have an impressive rookie season. He changed games, altered game plans and reshaped the Falcons’ defense. That is what an NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year looks like.
