4. Tennessee EDGE James Pearce Jr.
Measureables - 6’5 - 245 lbs - 32 ¾” Arms
As exhibited by the Chiefs' loss to the Eagles in last year's Super Bowl (sorry to bring that up), you can never have enough pass pushers.
Pearce could go anywhere from pick 20 to 35, and at 31, I think he’d be a very solid choice for Brett Veach. Pearce played three years at Tennessee, the last two being awarded First-team All-SEC, combining for 27.5 TFLs and 17.5 sacks, while playing in every single game.
In terms of pass rush ability, James Pearce Jr. (#27 @Vol_Football) has it all.
— Nathan Cooper (@ncoopdraft) April 22, 2025
🎯Frame
🎯Athleticism
🎯1st step explosion
🎯Lateral agility/burst
Very excited to see where he lands in a few days#NFLDraft2025 https://t.co/kptIgXm0dZ pic.twitter.com/2StCQ3O1CW
His game is smooth and very instinctual, no doubt a huge contributing factor to his high-pressure rate in college. Pearce positions himself very well pre-play, which allows him to work around the protection for quick wins. He ran a blazing 4.47 40-yard dash at the combine, and pair that with his speed-to-power push he gets off the line, it’s no wonder why he was so productive.
Pearce’s biggest weakness is in his mass and play strength at only 245 pounds, but as the NFL game is changing, teams are starting to get a little sleeker on the edge, prioritizing speed rather than strength. He can struggle against bigger tackles with longer arms, especially in space, and occasionally gets caught trying to drive back the tackle when he should be holding the edge on run plays. Pearce is not a perfect prospect, but he is certainly worth a first-round ticket.
5. Michigan DT Kenneth Grant
Measurables - 6’4 - 331 lbs - 33 ½” Arms
Grant may just be a little out of the Chiefs' range, but there are some avenues I could see him making it to 31, or perhaps a small trade up would do the job as well, something Veach isn’t shy to do.
The Michigan Wolverine is your typical broad-bodied nose tackle who can anchor the run game but also has a keen ability to hunt the quarterback. Physically, Grant is off the charts in terms of power, length, and heavy hands that are hard to shield off. Grant can play in both odd and even fronts and has the ability to both absorb a double team but also split it when his pad level is right.
You can count on one hand how many 330+ pound nose tackles can be kept in on passing downs and utilized as pass rushing weapons.
— Corbin K. Smith (@CorbinSmithNFL) April 17, 2025
Kenneth Grant is one of those rare dudes. He should absolutely be a top-20 pick next week. Game wrecker and only 21 years old. pic.twitter.com/ZZ1ske0fj7
Technique-wise, Grant needs some work with getting off the line with his first-step quickness, but his raw attributes usually make up for it.
On tape, Grant was a little inconsistent in 2024, but when he tested incredibly well at the combine, and you pair that with his size, guys like him are hard to find in any draft. Grant was Second-Team All-Big Ten Conference two straight years, with over 60 tackles, 11 TFLs, and 6.5 sacks. The Chiefs should target Grant should he start falling into the mid-twenties.