The University of Mississippi Athletics
NFL DRAFT: JJ Pegues Selected by Las Vegas Raiders in Sixth Round of 2025 NFL Draft
4/26/2025 | Football
GREEN BAY, Wis. – Ole Miss football senior defensive tackle JJ Pegues was selected 180th overall in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft by the Las Vegas Raiders, the third Rebel pick so far on Day Three after Jordan Watkins (San Francisco 49ers, Round 4) and Chris Paul Jr. (Los Angeles Rams, Round 5).
Pegues is the first Rebel selected by the Raiders since tight end Mario Perry was taken in the 11th round (pick 294) by the then Los Angeles Raiders. Pegues is the highest overall Rebel pick by the Raiders since wide receiver Tim Moffett in 1985 for the LA Raiders (Round 3, Pick 79), and he stands as the highest Rebel defensive selection all-time by the Raiders.
Pegues is the eighth overall Ole Miss selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, putting this Rebel class one away from tying the program record of nine since the AFL-NFL merger in 1967 set by both 1968 and 1971 teams.
Pegues was one of the more versatile players available in the 2025 NFL Draft, as evidenced by his excellent three seasons with the Rebels in which he served as an effective player on both sides of the ball. Across 38 total games played and 23 starts at Ole Miss, Pegues accounted for 110 total tackles, 26.5 tackles for loss, 10.0 sacks, nine QB hurries, seven pass breakups and one fumble recovery. Pegues wrapped his Rebel career tied for 16th in Ole Miss history at those 26.5 TFL
But his value as an offensive weapon – helped greatly by his prior experience as a tight end – turned heads in 2024. In his career, Pegues rushed 26 times for 86 yards and seven touchdowns, while also catching a one-yard touchdown in the 2022 Egg Bowl – with all seven of those rushing scores and 69 of those rushing yards coming last fall alone. Those 42 points ranked third on the team and were the most ever scored by a Chucky Mullins Award winner, while his seven scores ranked as the most rushing touchdowns by a defender in the nation last year.
Pegues was also a crucial component of the best rush defense in the nation last fall, earning several All-SEC honors while contributing to national team leads in both sacks (52) and TFL (120) that both ranked as program records. Pegues was tied for third on the team with 13.5 TFL for 53 yards, which tied for the 10th-most in Ole Miss single-season history. Pegues added 3.5 sacks, five QB hurries, one fumble recovery and one pass breakup alongside his 42 total tackles.
Among interior defensive linemen, Pegues owned the third-most PFF-rated pressures in the SEC at 31, while also ranking fifth in run defense grade (81.8) and sixth in overall season grade (74.6).
An Oxford native, Pegues has also been heavily active in the community, as evidenced by his appearance as a semifinalist for the Wuerffel Trophy and his two appearances on the SEC Community Service Team.
Gallery: (4-23-2025) NFL DRAFT: JJ Pegues
Pegues is the first Rebel selected by the Raiders since tight end Mario Perry was taken in the 11th round (pick 294) by the then Los Angeles Raiders. Pegues is the highest overall Rebel pick by the Raiders since wide receiver Tim Moffett in 1985 for the LA Raiders (Round 3, Pick 79), and he stands as the highest Rebel defensive selection all-time by the Raiders.
Pegues is the eighth overall Ole Miss selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, putting this Rebel class one away from tying the program record of nine since the AFL-NFL merger in 1967 set by both 1968 and 1971 teams.
Pegues was one of the more versatile players available in the 2025 NFL Draft, as evidenced by his excellent three seasons with the Rebels in which he served as an effective player on both sides of the ball. Across 38 total games played and 23 starts at Ole Miss, Pegues accounted for 110 total tackles, 26.5 tackles for loss, 10.0 sacks, nine QB hurries, seven pass breakups and one fumble recovery. Pegues wrapped his Rebel career tied for 16th in Ole Miss history at those 26.5 TFL
But his value as an offensive weapon – helped greatly by his prior experience as a tight end – turned heads in 2024. In his career, Pegues rushed 26 times for 86 yards and seven touchdowns, while also catching a one-yard touchdown in the 2022 Egg Bowl – with all seven of those rushing scores and 69 of those rushing yards coming last fall alone. Those 42 points ranked third on the team and were the most ever scored by a Chucky Mullins Award winner, while his seven scores ranked as the most rushing touchdowns by a defender in the nation last year.
Pegues was also a crucial component of the best rush defense in the nation last fall, earning several All-SEC honors while contributing to national team leads in both sacks (52) and TFL (120) that both ranked as program records. Pegues was tied for third on the team with 13.5 TFL for 53 yards, which tied for the 10th-most in Ole Miss single-season history. Pegues added 3.5 sacks, five QB hurries, one fumble recovery and one pass breakup alongside his 42 total tackles.
Among interior defensive linemen, Pegues owned the third-most PFF-rated pressures in the SEC at 31, while also ranking fifth in run defense grade (81.8) and sixth in overall season grade (74.6).
An Oxford native, Pegues has also been heavily active in the community, as evidenced by his appearance as a semifinalist for the Wuerffel Trophy and his two appearances on the SEC Community Service Team.
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