Grading the Bears Pick: DL Shemar Turner |
Dustin Riese
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- 5 hours ago
When the Bears made the trade with the Buffalo Bills and lost picks No. 41 and 75, many questions came with that decision. Sure, the Bears ultimately landed two more second-round picks in '56 and '62, but it also took them from a potential position of power to falling into the best player available mode.
Given the needs this team had entering day 2, many fans would've loved for the Bears to keep their original picks, but once the deal was made, it was up to the Bears to capitalize. Adding Ozzy Trapilo was a huge get at No. 56, as that addressed the offensive line area of need. However, the third and final pick of day 2 brought some more question marks as the Bears selected Texas A&M defensive tackle Shemar Turner. At 6-4 and 300 pounds, Turner is the definition of a road grater in the middle of the line and will help fortify the Bears' defense in the trenches. That is something the Bears have needed to get better at over the past few season. When you look at the overall production that Turner has brought to the table, there is a lot to like, even if some of his play has been inconsistent. Across his four-year career with the Aggies, Turner logged 115 tackles with a career high of 36 tackles last season. Along with that came 24 tackles for a loss, three forced fumbles, and 10 sacks. Only two of those sacks came this past season, which would be considered a down year, especially after racking up six sacks in 2023. A native of De Soto, Texas, Turner has the size to be a problem in the NFL and has the athleticism to become more than just a run stopper. That alone is a big reason why he ranked in the top 10 among defensive tackles, so you can see why the Bears took interest in him. The only issue many fans have with this pick is that Turner was viewed as a third-round talent, so to see him go in round two could be considered a reach. However, with the Bears losing their third-round pick as part of the trade, this essentially becomes their third-round pick, so this wasn't a reach as much as some might think. A three-year starter for the Aggies, Turner has the potential to become a player similar to Nnamdi Madubuike, and that is something a lot of fans could get behind. Listed as a tweener when you look at how he projects on the line, Turner has the measurables and lean mass. Turner plays with lots of activity and a heavy dose of violence. He has a quick first step and an explosive punch. He can hold the point against single blocks or work the gaps with foot quickness. A lack of length hurts his pressure rate, but he’s a relentless rusher who hunts blockers’ edges and will eventually leak through if the play extends. His athleticism and chase quickness will see him in or near the pile with some frequency as a future starter. Those accolades came from NFL draft expert Lance Zierlein, and when you dive deeper into those quotes, this seems like a much better pick than many gave the Bears credit for. After watching how he fared at the combine, it's evident that Turner has a bright future as long as he can keep his emotions in check. Dennis Allen is the perfect coach to help with that, as Turner could be one of the Day 2 steals of this year's draft. Pick Grade B+: The more you think about this pick, the better it looks as this was a great pickup for the Bears. No, it didn't address the Edge position, which the Bears still need, but it did help solidify the trenches on the defensive line, which was an area Ryan Poles wanted to focus on this offseason.
