Potential Cardinals draft targets James Pearce Jr., Shemar Stewart get after it at combine

Thursday marked a big day for the Arizona Cardinals in their search for defensive line and pass-rushing talent at the NFL Draft Combine.

After days of media and team interviews, medical exams and meetings, the big men took to the field at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

And it’s safe to say, first-round prospect and Tennessee James Pearce Jr. caught the attention of just about everyone with a 4.47-second 40-yard dash time (unofficial).

He did it rocking a hoodie, too.

Tennessee’s James Pearce Jr. runs the first sub-4.5 40 with a 4.47u 🔥

📺: #NFLCombine on @NFLNetwork
📱: Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/b11jEyxYBi

— NFL (@NFL) February 27, 2025

Coming off 7.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss after racking up 10 and 15, respectively, in 2023, Pearce already entered the combine as a top talent this draft class.

In NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah’s latest ranking of his top 50 prospects, Pearce came in at No. 21. He dropped one spot from Jeremiah’s first ranking of the offseason, though the analyst believes the pass rusher has double-digit sack potential.

The young pass rusher has also been the most-commonly linked prospect to the Cardinals’ No. 16 overall pick in the Arizona Sports Mock Draft Tracker. Of the 89 entries as of Thursday afternoon, Pearce has been mocked to Arizona 15 times. The next closest are Georgia pass rusher Jalon Walker and Michigan defensive lineman Kenneth Grant with 11.

Light work for James Pearce Jr. 🔥

He's @MoveTheSticks' 21st-ranked player.

📺: #NFLCombine on @NFLNetwork
📱: Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/MEe6tGgBIs

— NFL (@NFL) February 27, 2025

As for where Pearce might land in the first (or even second) round of the draft? That might depend more on how he performs in team interviews than what he turns in on the field.

Myles Garrett 2.0?

Texas A&M pass rusher Shemar Stewart is going to have even more people debating where he should go this draft after Thursday’s showing.

Turning in a solid day of work throughout on-the-field drills and measurements, the 6-foot-5, 267-pounder’s numbers brought forth one heck of an NFL comparison to one of the league’s best to ever rush the passer: Myles Garrett.

Texas A&M edge rusher Shemar Stewart recorded a 1.58-second 10-yard split (4.59o), tied for the second-fastest split by any defender over 265 pounds over the last 15 years.

Stewart has a similar size and athletic profile to Myles Garrett.

🔗: https://t.co/XTFadPE5Em pic.twitter.com/vrhoCwrkZl

— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) February 28, 2025

We all know how the rest of the story played out for Garrett, who went on to be the No. 1 overall pick by the Cleveland Browns in 2017 and has since been to six Pro Bowls, earned four First Team All-Pro nods and was named Defensive Player of the Year in 2023.

Stewart has a long way to go to reach those heights, but getting an early comparison to a future Hall of Famer on his way to a stellar day of on-field work never hurts.

Shemar Stewart’s Relative Athletic Score at the Combine placed him 3rd out of 1,802 DEs since 1987 per @MathBomb 🤯 https://t.co/uxCul0JmHo pic.twitter.com/XzA7dX3C0E

— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) February 27, 2025

For a player whose sack numbers don’t match — 1.5 in each of the past three seasons — Stewart squashed any doubt about his physical traits.

“I wasn’t a sack-chasing warrior,” Stewart told reporters on Wednesday. “I just wanted to become the best player for my team. Sometimes the stats don’t show that.”

And while his sack total doesn’t jump off the page, his 39 pressures last year sure do.

Shemar Stewart…. 10’11” broad jump. At his size??? pic.twitter.com/AdBJpoGKqn

— Lance Zierlein (@LanceZierlein) February 27, 2025

Derrick Harmon, have an NFL Draft Combine

Pearce might have stolen the show with his blazing speed on Thursday, but it was Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon who helped solidified his case as a first-round talent.

The 313-pounder, who shares similar measurements to Kansas City Chiefs DL Chris Jones, turned on the jets during the 40-yard dash with a pair of runs under five seconds (unofficially). His best came during his second attempt at 4.95 seconds.

Derrick Harmon with his second sub-5 second run at 313 pounds 😳

📺: #NFLCombine on @NFLNetwork
📱: Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/CajOfocQTC

— NFL (@NFL) February 27, 2025

Harmon was no one-trick pony on Thursday, either, further showcasing his skillset throughout numerous other on-field drills.

And right there to see it all was new Cardinals defensive line coach Winston DeLattiboudere III — aka Coach DeBo.

Derrick Harmon impressed throughout his drills 📈 @OregonFootball

📺: #NFLCombine on @NFLNetwork
📱: Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/RApm9yEw3q

— NFL (@NFL) February 27, 2025

Harmon, who is coming five sacks and 11 tackles for loss last year, has also been a common name linked to the Cardinals in the mock draft tracker with nine, good enough for the fourth most.

Jumping Jackson

Turning in an equally strong day was Arkansas pass rusher Landon Jackson.

On top of his 4.68-second 40-yard dash time (unofficial) — which came in tied for the seventh fastest — The 6-foot-6, 264-pounder showed off his hops with a 40.5-inch vertical on Thursday.

Arkansas EDGE Landon Jackson levitated with a 40.5 inch vert ⬆️ (via @StaceyDales)

📺: #NFLCombine on @NFLNetwork
📱: Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/T8Ee6e7yQI

— NFL (@NFL) February 27, 2025

Jackson, who entered the combine as a potential option for the Cardinals at No. 47, registered 6.5 sacks in back-to-back seasons to go along with double digit TFLs.

He undoubtedly improved his draft stock with Thursday’s performance.

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