Falcons Have to Put a Lot of Trust in James Pearce Jr. This Season

News ArticlePublishedJul 18, 2026 at 05:33 PM EDTThe Atlanta Falcons have plenty of questions to answer this season, but one thing's becoming clear: they're going to need James Pearce Jr. to make a serious impact.When looking at the most important non-quarterback positions on Atlanta's roster, edge rusher sits near the top. Quarterbacks get the spotlight, but games are often decided by what happens when they don't have enough time to make a play. That's where Pearce comes in.The Falcons are counting on him to become the kind of defensive presence who can change the direction of a game. His ability to create pressure, get after the quarterback and turn those chances into sacks could make the difference for a defense that's looking to take a massive step forward. It needs to take that step f