Falcons coach Raheem Morris said the team expects its top rookies "to play a significant amount of football” this season.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported after the draft that the Falcons would have been willing to draft Pearce at No. 15 had Walker already been off the board. Pearce racked up 17.5 sacks over his last two college seasons and clocked a 4.47-second 40-yard dash at the scouting combine in February.

The Atlanta Falcons got their first look at Tennessee EDGE James Pearce Jr. during rookie minicamp. The Tennessee Volunteers had a handful of former players selected during this year's draft and the first one off the board was EDGE James Pearce Jr.