Former Tennessee Vols standout Alvin Kamara has established himself as one of the NFL’s top players with the New Orleans Saints.
According to Ryan Roberts of A to Z Sports, another current Vol could potentially join Kamara in New Orleans next year.
In his latest mock draft, Roberts predicts Tennessee edge rusher James Pearce Jr. will be selected by the Saints with the 10th overall pick.
Roberts highlighted Pearce’s potential, stating:
“The Saints need a complement to Carl Granderson, and Pearce fits the bill perfectly. He’s long, explosive, and agile, with the potential to develop into the best pass rusher in the class.”
As the 2024 season enters Week 12, the Saints’ final draft position for 2025 remains uncertain, depending on their performance the rest of the season.
However, New Orleans’ pass rush has been underwhelming this year, making edge rusher a likely priority in the offseason. Adding a rookie with star potential, like Pearce, could significantly benefit the team. Pearce has followed up his breakout 2023 campaign with an impressive pressure rate of 21.8% through 10 games in 2024.
While there’s still time for draft positions to shift, Roberts’ reasoning for the Pearce-Saints connection is solid. Pairing Pearce with Kamara and former Tennessee cornerback Alontae Taylor could make the Saints a must-watch team for Vols fans next season.
