Lions expected to draft Tennessee's James Pearce Jr

The Detroit Lions are expected to focus on adding a pass rusher in the upcoming NFL draft. This follows the team’s recent decision to release veteran player Za'Darius Smith. ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. supports this idea. In his latest mock draft, he predicts that the Lions will select James Pearce Jr., an edge rusher from the University of Tennessee, with the 28th pick. Kiper notes that having a strong pass rusher alongside Aidan Hutchinson is crucial for the Lions to improve their playoff chances. James Pearce Jr. had a notable college career. He recorded 19.5 sacks and 75 tackles during his time at Tennessee. In the 2024 season, he had 7.5 sacks, but his pressure rate was impressive, ranking second in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). This isn’t the first time Pearce has been linked to the Lions. Another sports analysis website, Pro Football Focus, also predicted that he could be a fit for the team after the NFL combine last month.