Falcons' unconventional rainy day turns into proving ground for first round pick James Pearce

The Atlanta Falcons pulled off one of the most shocking picks on Day 1 of the NFL Draft for the second year in a row. Last year, it was selecting Michael Penix Jr. shortly after signing Kirk Cousins to a $180 million contract. That pick ended up being a blessing, as Cousins fell into a terrible slump that he never recovered from.

This year, the surprise came when the Falcons traded up to draft former Tennessee Volunteer James Pearce. Pearce was a dominant force at Tennessee, but concerns about his character caused his draft stock to slip slightly. Many found it puzzling that Atlanta was so aggressive in moving up to get him.

“This isn't about the player; it's about the price the Falcons paid to move up for him. Atlanta needed edge rush help and already got some earlier in the round with Jalon Walker. Trading next year's first-round pick to get Pearce felt like a massive overpay,” Dan Graziano said.

However, Raiders star Maxx Crosby was a fan of Atlanta’s draft decisions. Interestingly, a rainy day and a canceled private workout played a big role in why the Falcons ultimately chose Pearce.

“It was pouring rain. Fontenot looked at the forecast, saw the rain wouldn’t break, and texted to agents to tell them they’d scrap the workout, not wanting to be a prospect in a situation where he’d risk injury that close to the draft,” Albert Breer wrote.

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The Falcons then brought Pearce to Atlanta for a visit, where they came away impressed.

“In the end, after sitting down with Pearce and a slew of people from his past, the team saw a guy who loves football, is hyper-competitive and has smarts, and the Falcons were willing to bet on Morris’s program to help him grow up.”

The Falcons believe they struck gold with both of their first-round picks. For Pearce, the trip to Atlanta helped the team understand who he really is—effectively putting most of the character concerns to rest.