Pewter Report’s PR Roundtablepresented by PrizePicks
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A brand new Pewter Report Roundtable debuts each Tuesday on PewterReport.com. Every week, the Pewter Reporters deal with one other powerful Bucs query. Which NFC South PLAYER Is The Greatest Menace To Bucs?
Scott Reynolds: Atlanta’s James Pearce Jr. Is A Stud Cross Rusher In The NFC South
The Falcons made a daring transfer buying and selling up close to the top of the primary spherical of the 2025 NFL Draft to pick out Tennessee edge rusher James Pearce Jr., this approaching the heels of drafting Georgia edge rusher Jalon Walker earlier within the first rounder. Doing so price the Falcons their 2026 first-round choose, however on the sphere, the commerce was value it as Pearce led the workforce in sacks with 10.5, which accounted for practically one fifth of Atlanta’s 57 whole sacks. Walker completed his rookie season with 5.5 sacks by comparability.
Now Walker is the higher and extra proficient general participant, as Pearce is extra of a delegated go rusher. However the truth that he posted 10.5 sacks final yr, which was probably the most by a rookie within the NFL since Micah Parson had 13 in 2021, is noteworthy. He has the velocity and agility that among the league’s elite go rushers have – and that Walker doesn’t have. Sacks aren’t at all times the very best indicator of go rush prowess, however Pearce checked plenty of different bins, too. He had 45 whole pressures to Walker’s 29, and had 31 hurries in comparison with Walker’s 19, making him Atlanta’s most harmful go rusher final yr.
Falcons OLB James Pearce Jr. and Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
Pearce had 4 pressures, together with a QB hit, in Atlanta’s Week 1 loss to Tampa Bay. Within the rematch in Week 15 on Thursday Night time Soccer he had his finest sport of the season, recording a season-high six pressures and a career-high two sacks, along with a QB hit. Pearce rushed from the proper aspect in opposition to Tristan Wirfs, the left aspect in opposition to Luke Goedeke and stunted inside a number of instances over guards Dan Feeney and Mike Jordan as he was a relentless pest all night time.
Regardless of his velocity and go speeding means, Pearce was off some groups’ draft boards attributable to character issues at Tennessee. These issues bubbled to the floor after his rookie yr when he was charged with a number of felonies after an incident together with his former girlfriend, WNBA participant Rickea Jackson. Pearce was charged with aggravated battery with a lethal weapon when he rammed his automotive into hers, along with fleeing the police and resisting arrest with violence.
Now in an final case of “athlete privilege” Pearce averted jail by agreeing to a one-year pretrial diversion program the place he needed to search counseling. But the NFL will doubtless dole out a hefty suspension of at the very least 4 video games – or presumably for half the season. I believe he needs to be suspended for at the very least a whole yr given the severity of his crimes, however that’s not the best way the NFL usually works, particularly for gamers who plea out and handle to keep away from jail attributable to high-priced legal professionals.
If he’s suspended for eight or 9 video games then Pearce will miss the primary sport in opposition to the Bucs at Tampa Bay in Week 8, however he’ll be again for the rematch in Week 16 at Atlanta. Until he self-destructs his profession with continued unhealthy habits, Pearce can be a thorn within the Bucs’ aspect for years to come back. The dude can get to the quarterback – maybe higher than anybody else within the NFC South.
Matt Matera: Tetaiora McMillan Has Price The Bucs A Sport Earlier than And Can Do It Once more
It didn’t take lengthy for Panthers large receiver and Offensive Rookie of the Yr Tetairoa McMillan to make an influence when going through the Bucs. His landing proper earlier than halftime in Carolina’s 23-20 Week 16 win over Tampa Bay wound up being a pivotal second within the sport, and an essential victory that wound up being essential for the Panthers successful the NFC South division with an 8-9 report.
Panthers WR Tetairoa McMillan – Photograph by: IMAGN – Jim Dedmon
At 6-foot-5, 212 kilos, McMillan has the scale and skillset that the Bucs must sport plan for in years to come back. Carolina doesn’t have a ton of expertise on offense, however McMillan is that one star that may do plenty of harm and take over video games. Plus, this yr’s Bucs cornerback room that features Zyon McCollum, Jacob Parrish and Benjamin Morrison as their high three is perhaps weaker than it was a season in the past when it had veteran Jamel Dean on the roster.
If McMillan was beating Dean one-on-one in massive moments, what’s going to occur this yr with Dean now not on the workforce? McCollum is coming off a season filled with struggles whereas Morrison can’t keep on the sphere with accidents already flaring up this offseason. Parrish was nice and is anticipated to play extra exterior, however his 5-foot-10 measurement is a extreme mismatch for the 6-foot-5 McMillan. The Bucs must get artistic when slowing him down or else he’ll take over video games in these matchups.
Adam Slivon: Tyler Shough Has Upside, Weapons To Give Bucs Large Issues
Once I look throughout the NFC South, this week’s Pewter Report Roundtable might very nicely be one concerning the Falcons’ assortment of skill-position expertise. As an alternative of taking a look at what issues they might individually pose, there may be one participant throughout the division who can do severe harm as a area normal – Saints quarterback Tyler Shough.
Heading into final season, New Orleans’ outlook on the place was shaky, with Spencer Rattler starting the yr because the starter. As time went on, it grew to become time to permit Shough, the workforce’s second-year quarterback, to steer the offense. The promise he flashed ought to fear the Bucs when the 2 rivals sq. off.
Saints QB Tyler Shough and former Bucs ILB Lavonte David – Photograph by: IMAGN Pictures
Shough received his first prolonged look within the NFL in opposition to Tampa Bay in Week 8, however it was his efficiency in Week 14 that ought to flash warning alerts. Whereas his stat line of 13 completions on 20 makes an attempt for 144 yards and an interception is way from spectacular, he proved to be cell.
His seven carries for 55 yards and two touchdowns have been sufficient for New Orleans to come back away with a 24-20 win on the street. Contemplating what he needed to work with then in comparison with now, it is going to solely make his sport extra full in Kellen Moore’s offense.
With Alvin Kamara getting up there in working again age, the Saints went out and added Travis Etienne Jr. from the Jaguars in free company. If that was not sufficient, the large receiver room “received” an enormous improve after drafting Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson eighth general. Add in items similar to Juwan Johnson and Devaughn Vele, there may be cause to consider Tyler Shough can construct on his rookie yr.
Over Shough’s ultimate 5 video games, the workforce went 4-1 as he accomplished 69.9% of his passes whereas throwing for 1,316 yards and 5 touchdowns whereas working for 3 extra. Given his promise and the instruments round him, he’s set as much as be the NFC South’s finest quarterback not named Baker Mayfield.
Bailey Adams: Kyle Pitts Stays A Haunting Presence In The NFC South
How are you going to learn “NFC South” and “threat” and never instantly take into consideration Falcons tight finish Kyle Pitts? In fact, there’s the latest instance of Pitts’ dominance over the Bucs, which got here on Thursday Night time Soccer final December as Tampa Bay was attempting to interrupt a creamsicle curse and cease a second-half freefall. Pitts caught 11 of his 12 targets in that sport for 166 yards (15.1 avg.) and three touchdowns as Atlanta surprised Tampa Bay at house, 29-28.
Falcons TE Kyle Pitts – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
The previous Florida Gator phenom hasn’t had the begin to his NFL profession that everybody thought he might need. There have been indicators, however he hasn’t fairly been the gamebreaker folks anticipated him to be when the Falcons drafted him with the No. 4 general choose within the 2021 Draft. Nonetheless, Pitts usually has been that gamebreaker when it comes time for the Falcons to play the Bucs. Tampa Bay’s protection has hardly ever discovered a solution for the Atlanta tight finish.
It’s been significantly tough as of late. There have been glimpses for Pitts in opposition to the Bucs early on, as he had a five-catch, 73-yard efficiency the primary time he matched up with Tampa Bay in 2021 and later had a day with three catches for 57 yards (19.0 avg.) and a landing in opposition to the Bucs in December of 2023. However these days, issues hit one other degree. Pitts caught seven of his eight targets for 88 yards (12.6 avg.) on Thursday Night time Soccer in October of 2024. A pair weeks later, he introduced in 4 catches for 91 yards (22.8 avg.) and two touchdowns.
Then got here 2025. In Week 1, he hauled in seven of his eight targets for 59 yards (8.4 avg.) earlier than the monster 166-yard, three-touchdown sport in December. For his profession, Pitts has 44 catches for 629 yards (14.3 avg.) and 6 touchdowns in opposition to Tampa Bay. That’s 17% of his profession yardage and 40% of his touchdowns which have come in opposition to the Bucs. He’s a nightmare for Todd Bowles’ protection, one which the unit must discover a solution for in 2026.
Josh Queipo: Bijan Robinson’s Has Burned The Bucs On The Floor And By means of The Air
Week 1 of final yr Bijan Robinson received to the flat for a dump off go. As Bucs linebacker SirVocea Dennis bore down on him, Robinson faked a reduce to the within earlier than out-leveraging Dennis’ angle to the sideline. He then picked up two key blocks on his solution to a 50-yard landing. That play was the beginning of Dennis’ fall from grace in Bucs world.
That sport was the third in 5 straight video games the place Robinson topped 75 whole yards in opposition to Tampa Bay. After lacking nearly all of his first matchup with the Bucs, Robinson has gone off over the previous 5.
Falcons RB Bijan Robinson and Bucs ILB Lavonte David – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
Carries – 66Rush Yds – 275Avg – 4.2Receptions – 29Yds – 295Avg – 10.2Total TD – 4Total Yards Per Sport – 114.0
Robinson is without doubt one of the finest gamers within the NFL and is a full blown Professional Bowl working again. And his expertise is on full show in opposition to the Bucs every time they meet up. He is without doubt one of the few backs who averages over 4.0 yards per carry in opposition to the Bucs’ stout run protection. And he’s simply as harmful – if no more – by means of the air as a receiver on swing passes and screens.
Essentially the most harmful gamers are those the Bucs design their entire gameplan round. And there’s no participant who requires as intensive of a gameplan as Atlanta’s Bijan Robinson.
