Ryan Wilson endorsed Atlanta taking Tennessee pass‑rusher James Pierce Jr. at No. 15, calling him the best pure football talent left on the board. Pierce checked in at 6‑5, 250 with vines for arms and wrecked SEC tackles to the tune of a 19.4 % pressure rate while grading out as Tennessee’s top run defender. Wilson admitted several clubs have removed Pierce from first‑round consideration over off‑field concerns, but said the Falcons’ front office brought him in on a 30‑visit and left comfortable with the background. Atlanta ranked 28th in sack rate last year; DC Jimmy Lake needs a true alpha edge to unlock his Cover‑3 pressures. If Pierce stays clean, Wilson believes he can post a Day‑1 snap share north of 70 % and compete for Defensive Rookie of the Year. Draft bettors can still grab Pierce’s position prop Under 17.5 at plus money, a line Wilson called “one of the softer numbers on the board.”