Feb. 23, 2026, 7:03 a.m. ET

Think back to last year and the NFL 2025 Draft. What the Washington Commanders needed most, picking at No. 29, was a pass rusher.

There was little to no debate about the need for a pass rusher. Picking as low as the Commanders were at No. 29, how many times did we hear/read of whether someone might fall all the way down to No. 29, so the Commanders could get the pass rusher they need? There were analysts wondering how far Jalon Walker (Georgia) would fall because of the uncertainty of which position he could play in the NFL. There was also Shemar Stewart (Texas A&M) because of his low college production; might he fall to 29?

Then there was Tennessee’s excellent pass rusher James Pearce Jr. Oh, if he could fall to No. 29, what a boost he would be to the Commanders’ pass rush. Why was there talk he might fall to No. 29? Pearce was said to be so talented, but there were also behavioral concerns.

On draft night, Walker was taken at 15; Stewart quickly followed at 17. The draft moved through to pick 25, and Pearce was still there. Without a doubt, the Falcons knew the Commanders needed a pass rusher at 29, and some had reported that the Lions at 28 were looking for one as well. The Falcons couldn’t wait any longer. So, they pulled the trigger, traded up with the Rams, offering Atlanta’s first-round pick in the 2026 draft. The Falcons selected who many said was the most talented, explosive pass rusher in the draft, James Pearce, at No. 26.

The Commanders at No. 29 did not reach for a pass rusher but instead took the player they believed was the best at 29, selecting OT Josh Conerly (Oregon). After a slow start, trying to adjust to NFL pass rushers, Conerly had a much stronger second half. The pick by Commanders GM Adam Peters looks to be a good one.

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Back to Pearce, why was he falling in the draft, though often said to be the most talented pass rusher in the 2025 draft? Well, scouts reported Pearce had anger issues, had been arrested in 2023, speeding while driving with a suspended license, disobeying registration and window tinting regulations.

Now, one of those misdemeanors wouldn’t necessarily scare an NFL GM away from a first-round pick. But how many red flags do you need? Well, apparently, all of those together scared away several other general managers from taking the most talented pass rusher in the draft.

To Pearce’s credit, he certainly displayed that pass-rushing talent, producing 10.5 QB sacks with an additional 16 QB hits, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Those were the most sacks by a NFL rookie since Micah Parsons (2021).

But two weeks ago, it was reported that Pearce allegedly had a dispute with WNBA player Rickea Jackson. Allegedly, Pearce fled the scene, crashed his vehicle during a police chase, and was placed in handcuffs. According to Pablo Hernandez of WPLG (Miami), Pearce is facing charges of “two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, and one count each of aggravated stalking and fleeing or eluding police with lights or siren.”

Yes, the Falcons got one very good season out of Pearce. But other teams GM determined Pearce was not the risk of a first-round choice. The Falcons, meanwhile, did a poor job of risk-to-reward assessment because they were even willing to risk their 2026 first-round pick as well for Pearce.

Yes, the Commanders missed out on an explosive pass rusher in the 2025 first round. But perhaps they got someone in Conerly who is more often going to be available. After all, isn’t the old saying still just as true today as when it was originally stated: “The best ability is dependability (or availability)?”