Charges Against Falcons WR Zachariah Branch Dropped; Latest On James Pearce Jr.’s Pretrial Program
The State of Georgia has dropped the misdemeanor charges that were pending against Falcons rookie wide receiver Zachariah Branch, per Seth Emerson of The Athletic (subscription required). Branch had been facing the charge of misdemeanor obstruction of a law enforcement officer and had received a citation for obstructing private sidewalks
The details of the incident suggested it would have little to no impact on Branch’s professional prospects. The Falcons selected the USC and Georgia product in the third round of the draft less than a week after his arrest, and as Emerson notes, The Athletic draftnik Dane Brugler considered Branch a third-round talent anyway (subscription required).
“After reviewing all evidence, including videos, and discussing the case with us, the State agreed to dismiss all charges against Mr. Branch,” Kim Stephens, Branch’s lawyer, said. “Zachariah cooperated fully with law enforcement and did not commit a crime on the night of his arrest and never should have been arrested. We are glad this matter is over and that Mr. Branch’s excellent reputation and good name restored.”
While the NFL can of course impose punishment even in the absence of criminal charges, that would seem unlikely in this case. Instead, Branch can probably focus exclusively on carving out a spot in a receiving corps that would seem to offer plenty of opportunities behind the newly-extended Drake London.
Branch’s height (5-9) makes him an obvious candidate for slot work. While he offers plenty of speed and led the SEC with 81 receptions in 2025, Brugler observes that Branch’s average depth of target over the course of his college career was just 5.2 yards. In Brugler’s view, the Las Vegas native did not exhibit a refined route tree, and if he does not improve in that regard, he could be limited to a gadget/return specialist role. Still, the top two receivers behind London on the depth chart are offseason signees Jahan Dotson and Olamide Zaccheaus, so Branch should have a real chance to make a name for himself this summer.
There is additional legal-related news concerning the Falcons. Josh Kendall of The Athletic reports that edge rusher James Pearce Jr.‘s pretrial intervention program, which was originally six months in length, has been extended to one year. However, the program’s conditions remain the same.
As Kendall relayed back in April, Pearce will be required to stay away from the alleged victim in the matter, Rickea Jackson, take part in therapy sessions, and avoid further legal trouble (subscription required). Pearce will also be required to submit to random drug testing and write a letter of apology to law enforcement (we had passed on some, but not all, of those details already).
It is unclear whether the extended timeline will impact when the NFL will make a decision on imposing any of its own sanctions. If Pearce successfully completes the program, the three felony charges he faced (including aggravated battery with a deadly weapon) will be dismissed.
Falcons’ James Pearce Jr. To Enter Pretrial Diversion Program
When the Falcons began their offseason program earlier this month, the future of edge rusher James Pearce Jr. remained unclear. Thursday has brought about a significant legal development.
The three felony charges Pearce currently faces will be dismissed if he completes a pretrial diversion program, as first reported by Andy Slater of Fox Sports South Florida. Per Slater, this arrangement was agreed to by the police officers involved in the alleged incident which led to Pearce’s arrest along with Rickea Jackson, the woman who was recently granted a protective order from Pearce.
A six-month period will now take place in which Pearce will be required to meet a number of conditions. Slater notes therapy sessions will be required, along with the absence of any new legal troubles. As confirmed by attorneys Jacob Nunez and Yale Sanford (via Ian Rapoport of NFL Network), this deal includes no admission of guilt. No jail time will be served provided all conditions of the diversion program are met.
Thursday was scheduled to be the date for a docket sounding in Pearce’s case, making today the last point for an arrangement such as this one to be worked out. Presuming the 22-year-old completes the program without incident, his legal situation will be brought to a close. As Rapoport notes, however, the NFL has been “closely monitoring all developments” throughout this process, and that will continue to be the case. Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports confirms Pearce is still subject to a league investigation.
NFL discipline does not require a criminal conviction, so a fine and/or suspension for a violation of the personal conduct policy will still be possible pending the outcome of the league’s probe into the matter. Missing Pearce for a stretch at the beginning of the 2026 campaign would deal a blow to the Falcons’ defense, but the lack of a conviction would obviously pave the way for the team to keep him in the fold. The Tennessee product’s rookie contract runs through 2028, with the potential for a fifth-year option in 2029.
Pearce enjoyed a highly productive debut season in the NFL, posting 10.5 sacks and helping spark a turnaround in terms of Atlanta’s effectiveness in the edge rush department. He finished third in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting and will be counted on to remain a productive presence upon returning to the field. The time at which that will be possible remains to be seen, but Pearce is now in position to avoid any legal consequences and turn his attention back to his career.
Unclear If James Pearce Jr. Will Report To Falcons’ Offseason Program
Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr. is the subject of three felony charges. As such, his immediate and long-term futures remain unclear at this point.
Pearce has been charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, fleeing and eluding police, and resisting an officer with violence to his or her person stemming from an incident which led to an arrest in early February. Pearce has been the subject of numerous domestic violence allegations from ex-girlfriend and WNBA player Rickea Jackson. Jackson filed a petition for a protective order, and it was granted; a permanent injunction hearing is scheduled for April 21.
As detailed by Josh Kendall of The Athletic, a docket sounding is set for April 23. That will mark the final opportunity for a plea agreement to be reached in this case. If that does not take place, Pearce – who also faces a charge of aggravated stalking which was reduced to a misdemeanor – will see his case proceed to trial. One is currently scheduled to begin on May 4.
Well before that point, the Falcons will start their offseason program. As one of the teams with a new head coach in place, Atlanta’s spring work will begin tomorrow. It remains to be seen, per Kendall, if Pearce will report to the team. The 22-year-old recorded 10.5 sacks in 2025 and was a finalist for the Defensive Rookie of the Year award, but the allegations he faces have led to uncertainty regarding his situation. To little surprise, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports an absence is expected in this case.
Shortly after Pearce’s arrest, the NFL began reviewing the matter. That is still the case at this point, although a league representative declined to confirm to Kendall if a formal investigation has been opened yet. The NFL’s personal conduct policy carries a baseline suspension of six games for first-time offenses of domestic violence, with the potential for that figure to be raised or lowered based on mitigating or aggravating factors. The league often waits until a criminal proceeding takes its course before handing down any potential discipline; convictions are not required for a fine and/or suspension to be issued.
Atlanta’s other 2025 first-round pick, Jalon Walker, enjoyed a strong rookie season of his own and can be expected to remain a mainstay in the pass rush department for years to come. The same may not be true of Pearce, whose status will be worth monitoring closely over the coming days as well as the course of the offseason.
Falcons OLB James Pearce Jr. Now Faces Three Felony Charges
In the latest update to the legal situation surrounding Falcons rookie outside linebacker James Pearce Jr., ESPN’s Marc Raimondi and Michael Rothstein note that Pearce’s five pending felony arrest charges will be reduced to three. Pearce has been charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, fleeing and eluding police, and resisting an officer with violence to his or her person, while the arrest charge of felony aggravated stalking was reduced to a misdemeanor.
The fifth original arrest charge of aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer was dropped from his slate. According to Andy Slater of Fox Sports South Florida, the charge was dropped because prosecutors determined “there wasn’t enough evidence” on police body cam footage to charge Pearce with a felony that could carry a prison sentence of five years.
An arrest was made in February after an incident in which Pearce crashed his car while fleeing police. The episode stemmed from an alleged domestic dispute between Pearce and WNBA player Rickea Jackson. An NFL investigation was opened shortly thereafter, and it remains ongoing at this time.
As Raimondi and Rothstein detailed earlier this month, Pearce was the subject of at least seven 9-1-1- calls regarding Jackson and allegations of domestic disturbances prior to the incident which resulted in his arrest. Police records indicate numerous instances when Jackson reported feeling unsafe with respect to stalking and harassment on the part of Pearce in the months leading up to his arrest. A petition for a protective order was filed shortly after Pearce’s arrest, per the ESPN’s pair.
According to the court filing, Pearce “verbally and physically abused” Jackson on multiple occasions. It also states Pearce “threatened to kill, harm and injure” Jackson and “place a bag over her head.” The initial protection request was granted. A permanent injunction hearing is scheduled for April 21.
“Those are concerning, to say the least,” new Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham said of the allegations (via Raimondi) during his latest remarks on the Pearce situation. ” Outside of that, I’ll keep it similar to what we said at the Combine. We’re not going to comment on an ongoing investigation.”
After selecting Jalon Walker in the first round of the 2025 draft, the Falcons traded back into the Day 1 order to select Pearce. The 22-year-old was a Defensive Rookie of the Year finalist with 10.5 sacks as part of a substantial turnaround in terms of pass rush production for Atlanta. Pearce’s rookie contract runs through 2028.
Ely Allen contributed to this post.
NFL To Review Falcons OLB James Pearce Jr. Incident
FEBRUARY 11: Jackson “remains cooperative and willing to testify at trial, if one is necessary,” her attorneys wrote in a court notice Tuesday in Miami-Dade County (via Raimondi).
FEBRUARY 10: On Saturday, Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr. was arrested. He now faces five felony charges, and NFL discipline could be coming.
NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy has confirmed (via ESPN’s Marc Raimondi) the league will review Pearce’s situation. A fine and/or suspension under the personal conduct policy will be possible as a result. The NFL has long adopted a stance of waiting for all legal matters to play out before arriving at a decision on supplemental discipline, however.
The criminal complaint from the Miami-Dade County State Attorney’s Office details the alleged incident which resulted in Pearce’s arrest. The 22-year-old followed Rickea Jackson in a white Lamborghini SUV after a falling out between the two, per the complaint. Pearce and Jackson (who plays for the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks) dated for roughly three years until recently, Jackson later told police.
Upon seeing Jackson’s vehicle stopped at a red light, Pearce is alleged to have exited his Lamborghini and attempted to enter Jackson’s vehicle by opening the driver’s door. It was at that point that Jackson drove away and attempted to reach the Doral Police Department. Per the complaint, Pearce then entered his vehicle and used it to strike Jackson’s multiple times to prevent her from reaching the police station. Officers attempted to intervene, and an affidavit states Pearce fled the scene by driving away.
Once Pearce crashed at an intersection while being chased, he fled on foot. Police eventually caught up to and arrested him, and Pearce was “triaged on scene” for injuries sustained during the incident. He was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center later that day. On Sunday, a $20,500 bond was posted allowing Pearce to be released from custody. Charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon along with aggravated stalking and fleeing or eluding police with lights or siren are now pending.
“We look forward to working with the State Attorney’s Office in fully investigating this case and uncovering the truth,” a statement from Pearce’s attorneys reads. “Mr. Pearce maintains his innocence and urges the public to understand that while allegations have the power to shape a narrative, that it is hardly the full, complete story. We look forward to vigorously defending our client and remain confident that he will continue contributing positively to both his team and the community he serves so well.”
Selected 26th overall during last year’s draft, Pearce enjoyed a standout rookie campaign with 10.5 sacks and played a central role in the Falcons’ improvement in the pass rush department. His contract runs through 2028.
Falcons OLB James Pearce Jr. Arrested
FEBRUARY 8: Pearce is currently being held on a $20,500 bond, as noted by ESPN’s Marc Raimondi. He has been assigned to the felony domestic crimes intake unit. A pre-trial conditional stay-away order has also been issued to prevent Pearce from having any contact with Jackson.
FEBRUARY 7: Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr. was arrested on Saturday in Doral, Florida and booked in the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
Booking records indicate Pearce faces two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. He has also been charged with one count each of aggravated stalking and fleeing or eluding police with lights or siren. According to Pablo Hernandez of WPLG Local 10 News, Pearce was arrested after crashing his car while fleeing police.
Doral Police was dispatched to a dispute involving one man and one woman. Doral Police Chief Edwin Lopez stated the woman in question was WNBA player Rickea Jackson. Jackson, 24, was selected in the first round of the league’s 2024 draft by the Los Angeles Sparks. Pearce is alleged to have fled the scene prior to ultimately crashing and being detained.
Andy Slater of Fox Sports South Florida reports Pearce is accused of intentionally crashing his Lamborghini into Jackson’s car to prevent her from reaching a police station. It was that incident, he adds, which led to the Pearce police chase.
“We are aware of an incident involving James Pearce Jr., in Miami,” a team statement reads (h/t Josh Kendall of The Athletic). “We are in the process of gathering more information and will not have any further comment on an open legal matter at this time.”
The Falcons made a concerted effort to boost their pass rush during the opening round of the 2025 draft. After selecting Jalon Walker 15th overall, Atlanta traded back into the Day 1 order and added Pearce with pick No. 26. The arrival of both players proved highly impactful in upgrading the Falcons’ production along the edge. Pearce, 22, collected 10.5 sacks and 16 quarterback hits in 2025. Those totals helped him finish third in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting.
Pearce’s bond has yet to be set, according to the WPLG piece. His arrest report has not yet been made available, it adds, limiting details on the nature of the alleged incident.
Falcons CB A.J. Terrell Ruled Out
The Falcons have ruled out star cornerback A.J. Terrell for Sunday’s matchup with the Panthers, per D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Terrell left the game in Week 2 with a hamstring injury and did not practice this week. Head coach Raheem Morris described him as week-to-week on Wednesday, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Fifth-year cornerback Dee Alford is expected to replace Terrell in the starting lineup after finishing the game in his stead last week. He has primarily lined up in the slot in his career with 16 starts across the 2023 and 2024 seasons, but will have to play on the boundary during the Falcons’ visit to the Panthers on Sunday.
Terrell, a 2020 first-round pick, broke out as a second-team All-Pro in his second year with 4.8 yards and a 61.0 passer rating when targeted. He’s been solid in coverage since, but has not returned to the heights of his 2021 campaign. Still, he’s a major loss to a Falcons defense that has been middling against the pass so far this year.
Wide receivers Jamal Agnew (groin) and Casey Washington (concussion) were both ruled out for Sunday’s game as well. Rookie edge rusher James Pearce (groin) is questionable, but should have a good chance at taking the field after practicing all week, albeit as a limited participant. Starting wideouts Drake London and Darnell Mooney have no injury designations and will be full-go against the Panthers.
Falcons Complete Rookie Draft Class Signings
On Friday, the Falcons agreed to terms with their three mid- to late-round picks and Jalon Walker. Today, the team has now done the same with its other edge rusher selected in the first round, completing its 2025 rookie draft class signings.
James Pearce has signed his rookie deal, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. The four-year pact is worth $16.8MM fully guaranteed and includes an $8.8MM signing bonus. Like all other Day 1 picks, Pearce can be kept under team control through 2029 via the fifth-year option.
The Tennessee product racked up 17.5 sacks across his sophomore and junior years, cementing his status as one of the best speed rushers in the 2025 class. The Falcons – long in need of help in the pass-rush department – entered the opening round of the draft planning on selecting Pearce if he was still available at pick No. 15. Atlanta wound up taking Walker after he surprisingly fell that far down the order.
In spite of that addition along the edge, the Falcons remained intent on acquiring Pearce as well. To that end, they traded back into the first round by sending the Rams a package highlighted by Atlanta’s Day 1 pick in 2026. With Walker and Pearce now in the fold, the Falcons have a pair investments aimed at providing them with a solution in terms of production along the edge for years to come.
In the latter’s case, though, red flags (including his desire to play football) emerged for certain NFL suitors. Multiple teams took Pearce off their draft boards, Josh Kendall of The Athletic reports (subscription required). The Falcons were obviously not among them, and general manager Terry Fontenot spoke about his confidence in the first-team All-SEC standout’s ability to enjoy a strong pro career.
“There’s always things that are reported and there’s a perception on the outside and then there is a whole different level based off the information we know,” Fontenot said (via Kendall). “We have a really thorough process that we go through, and I believe our scouts… but then we again go through a security process and we gather a lot of information on these players and so we have a lot of confidence in our process.”
The Falcons signed Leonard Floyd in free agency, adding him to an edge rush group which includes recent draftees Arnold Ebiketie and Bralen Trice. Walker and Pearce will be counted on to contribute early and often for Atlanta, and both are now on the books.
Here’s a final look at the Falcons’ 2025 rookie draft class:
- Round 1, No. 15: Jalon Walker (LB, Georgia) (signed)
- Round 1, No. 26 (from Rams): James Pearce (DE, Tennessee) (signed)
- Round 3, No. 96 (from Eagles): Xavier Watts (S, Notre Dame) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 118: Billy Bowman Jr. (S, Oklahoma) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 218 (from Browns through Chargers): Jack Nelson (T, Wisconsin) (signed)
Falcons Had Planned To Draft James Pearce Jr. At No. 15
While the Jets carried the curse of John Abraham at edge rusher for over a decade, the Falcons also struggled mightily to replace the since-retired pass rusher. Despite first-round picks, notable free agency additions and a 2024 trade, Atlanta has come up empty in its search for consistent EDGE presences.
Abraham, whom Atlanta acquired in a three-team trade in 2006, signed with the Cardinals in 2013. The Falcons have sputtered in their attempts to locate edges since. Free agency additions (Osi Umenyiora, Dwight Freeney, Bruce Irvin, Dante Fowler, Bud Dupree) and a Matt Judon trade either provided stopgaps or ended up misfiring, while first-rounders Vic Beasley (2015) and Takk McKinley (2017) did not become long-term answers. Falcons have produced one double-digit sack season (Beasley’s outlier 2016) since Abraham’s 2013 exit.
[RELATED: Jalon Walker May Need Surgery]
This alarming trend heavily influenced Atlanta’s 2025 draft. The team had attempted to trade up for Laiatu Latu after its surprising Michael Penix Jr. pick last year, but no deal emerged. The Falcons did find a taker this year, sending their 2026 first-rounder to the Rams in a package that secured them James Pearce Jr. at No. 26. This came after Atlanta chose Jalon Walker at No. 15. The duo represents the biggest swing the Falcons have taken to stop this pass-rushing drought since Abraham’s Cardinals defection.
Although the Falcons have drawn criticism for trading their 2026 first to move into the late first round, they did so because they placed a high value on Pearce. The Tennessee edge presence would have been Atlanta’s No. 15 pick had Walker not been available, according to SI.com’s Albert Breer.
The Falcons did not expect Walker to be there at 15, leading to the Georgia hybrid linebacker being the choice. Walker had been linked to a few teams in the top 10 — from the Saints to the Panthesr to the Jets to even the Patriots at No. 4. Falcons GM Terry Fontenot said the team would have been “more than comfortable” taking Pearce at 15, per ESPN.com’s Marc Raimondi. Fontenot noted Pearce being off the board would have caused the Falcons to stand down, but they will be without their 2026 first-rounder because of a high grade on Pearce.
Even as Grady Jarrett returned from his ACL tear to team with Judon, the Falcons ranked 31st in pressure rate last season. Pearce, who registered 17.5 sacks over his final two Tennessee seasons and clocked a 4.47-second 40-yard dash, will join Walker and free agency addition Leonard Floyd in a beefed-up Falcons pass rush. Pearce had come up as a Falcons target at 15 during draft week. The team hosted him on a “30” visit as well.
It will be interesting to see how the Falcons use Walker, Pearce and Floyd. Walker’s work as an off-ball linebacker at Georgia creates some possibilities for the team to use all three together, but Floyd is a 49ers cap casualty on a one-year, $10MM deal. Walker and Pearce are in place to be Atlanta’s hopeful long-term answers to one of the NFL’s longest-running problems.
Falcons’ Jalon Walker May Need Surgery
Jalon Walker was expected to be a first-round pick on Thursday night, but he fell to the Falcons at No. 15 due to concerns about a shoulder injury, according to Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline.
Atlanta will be happy to keep the versatile young linebacker in Georgia, but Walker may require surgery that could stunt his rookie year and hinder his transition to the NFL. At 6-foot-1 and 243 pounds, he was already considered an undersized edge defender by NFL standards, raising concerns about his physical upside and durability.
The Falcons may be less worried about Walker’s shoulder. They also could have taken his injury into account when they moved up 20 spots to take James Pearce with the 26th overall pick. If Walker missed part of the 2025 season due to injury, the Falcons can still count on Pearce to contribute to their pass rush right away.
Walker was long linked to the Panthers at No. 8, but they went with another top-10 talent in wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan. The Jets at 7 and the Saints at 9 were also thought to be in the mix for the 21-year-old linebacker, but they both added offensive linemen.
Atlanta was widely expected to select an edge rusher with Pearce and Mike Green frequently named as likely targets. It seems the Falcons leapt at the chance to take Walker after he fell to 15, but still had such a high grade on Pearce that they jumped back into the first round for him as well.