Drafting a defensive lineman from Penn State never backfires, unless it’s the Cleveland Browns, but what doesn’t backfire on them? James Pearce played great for the Falcons last season and was one of the steals of the 2025 NFL Draft. He is having some legal issues, and his availability is up in the air. He will likely be back, but getting a little depth with Zane Durant won’t hurt a bit.

Durant is a compact 6’1 and 290 pounds. He’s more chiseled than soft, and it shows in his combine numbers. He ran a 4.75 forty with a 33.5″ vertical in Indianapolis. He was ranked 38th overall on Bruce Feldman’s Freak List. He explodes out of his stance at the line of scrimmage and will catch interior linemen off guard. His motor is relentless, which means this guy plays through the whistle, every time, for all four quarters.

Durant will get knocked for his height, but it won’t hurt him in the pros. His lack of moves and inconsistent hand usage are much more concerning. He will be a rotational player at first who gives breathers to the starter, unless Pearce ends up in prison.