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James Pearce Jr. is back with the Atlanta Falcons, reporting to Flowery Branch yesterday to participate in the team's mandatory minicamp, which runs Tuesday through Thursday.
Pearce has caught a lucky break regarding his legal troubles, stemming from a domestic violence incident with his former girlfriend over the offseason. If he completes a one-year intervention program the charges will be dropped. However, even if the law is lenient with Pearce, the league office may not be so kind.
There's a good chance that the NFL will wind up suspending Pearce for a significant portion of the 2026 season. That's probably fair considering he's skating on an aggravated battery with a deadly weapon charge, but obviously bad news for the Falcons - who Pearce led with 10.5 sacks as a rookie.
If Pearce is suspended Atlanta will need more firepower off the edge. According to Brent Sobleski at Bleacher Report, the Falcons should look into signing Jadeveon Clowney or Derek Barnett in the event Pearce is suspended.
Barnett has had a solid career since the Philadelphia Eagles picked him in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft. While he's never posted more than 6.5 sacks in a season his production has been consistent. Over the last two seasons with the Houston Texans he's posted five sacks a year, averaging 11.5 pressures, 8.5 quarterback hits and six tackles for a loss.
Barnett would help make up for the loss of Pearce, but Clowney is a better option even though he's four years older. Clowney had an underwhelming 2024 season in Carolina. However, removed from their defensive dysfunction Clowney proved he's still got it last year, totaling 8.5 sacks, 10 QB hits and 12 TFL in 13 games with the Dallas Cowboys.
For his efforts, Clowney earned an 80.6 pass rushing grade from PFF, while Barnett came in at 69.7. Overall, Clowney's grades ranked him 15th at his position, while Barnett ranked 39th.
Last season Clowney played for the Cowboys on a one-year, $3.5 million deal. If the Falcons can get him for anything less than $5 million it would be a grand bargain.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: B/R links Falcons to Jadeveon Clowney, Derek Barnett
Continue reading...
Pearce has caught a lucky break regarding his legal troubles, stemming from a domestic violence incident with his former girlfriend over the offseason. If he completes a one-year intervention program the charges will be dropped. However, even if the law is lenient with Pearce, the league office may not be so kind.
There's a good chance that the NFL will wind up suspending Pearce for a significant portion of the 2026 season. That's probably fair considering he's skating on an aggravated battery with a deadly weapon charge, but obviously bad news for the Falcons - who Pearce led with 10.5 sacks as a rookie.
If Pearce is suspended Atlanta will need more firepower off the edge. According to Brent Sobleski at Bleacher Report, the Falcons should look into signing Jadeveon Clowney or Derek Barnett in the event Pearce is suspended.
Barnett has had a solid career since the Philadelphia Eagles picked him in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft. While he's never posted more than 6.5 sacks in a season his production has been consistent. Over the last two seasons with the Houston Texans he's posted five sacks a year, averaging 11.5 pressures, 8.5 quarterback hits and six tackles for a loss.
Barnett would help make up for the loss of Pearce, but Clowney is a better option even though he's four years older. Clowney had an underwhelming 2024 season in Carolina. However, removed from their defensive dysfunction Clowney proved he's still got it last year, totaling 8.5 sacks, 10 QB hits and 12 TFL in 13 games with the Dallas Cowboys.
For his efforts, Clowney earned an 80.6 pass rushing grade from PFF, while Barnett came in at 69.7. Overall, Clowney's grades ranked him 15th at his position, while Barnett ranked 39th.
Last season Clowney played for the Cowboys on a one-year, $3.5 million deal. If the Falcons can get him for anything less than $5 million it would be a grand bargain.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: B/R links Falcons to Jadeveon Clowney, Derek Barnett
Continue reading...
