Atlanta traded back into the 2025 first round for James…
Atlanta traded back into the 2025 first round for James Pearce Jr. and pick 101, sending the Rams picks 46 and 242 plus its 2026 first-rounder. Pearce immediately justified much of the aggression with 10.5 rookie sacks, while Los Angeles turned the deal into Terrance Ferguson, Konata Mumpfield and the 13th pick in 2026. Both sides secured meaningful value.
Atlanta Falcons Received
- pick 2025 1st round pick (26th overall, James Pearce)
- pick 2025 3rd round pick (101st overall subsequently traded, Sai'vion Jones )
Los Angeles Rams Received
- pick 2025 2nd round pick (46th overall, Terrance Ferguson)
- pick 2025 7th round pick (242nd overall, Konata Mumpfield )
- pick 2026 1st round pick (13th overall, Ty Simpson)
Trade Analysis
Atlanta made one of the boldest moves of the 2025 first round, sending pick 46, pick 242 and its 2026 first-round selection to Los Angeles for Nos. 26 and 101. The Falcons used No. 26 on Tennessee edge rusher James Pearce Jr., targeting the kind of pass-rush talent the defense had lacked. That aggression produced an immediate return: Pearce played all 17 games as a rookie and finished with 10.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, 16 quarterback hits and a franchise rookie record 45 pressures.
Los Angeles took the opposite approach and accepted future value. The Rams used No. 46 on tight end Terrance Ferguson and No. 242 on receiver Konata Mumpfield. More importantly, Atlanta's 2026 first-round pick landed at No. 13, giving Los Angeles a premium selection one year after moving out of the first round. The Rams therefore received both current players and a high future pick for allowing Atlanta to climb 20 spots.
The No. 101 selection that went to Atlanta later moved again, so its terminal player should not simply be credited as an original Falcons selection from this exchange. The central comparison is clearer: Atlanta paid a future first to secure Pearce, and Pearce immediately became a double-digit sack producer; Los Angeles turned patience into a second-round player, a seventh-round player and the 13th pick the following year.
The C/C Even Trade verdict remains defensible because both strategies generated meaningful value quickly. Atlanta's price looked aggressive on draft night, but Pearce's rookie production made the move far easier to justify. Los Angeles still obtained the kind of premium future capital that can shape a roster for years. The Rams may eventually pull ahead if the No. 13 pick becomes a major player, but through the first season both clubs can point to tangible, high-end value from the same transaction.