Setting Rookie Expectations For Shemar Turner
Improving the talent along the defensive line was clearly a point of emphasis for the Bears’ front office this offseason.
Chicago added two new projected starters in free agency, Dayo Odeyingbo and Grady Jarrett, and later added more depth through the selection of Shemar Turner with their third-round selection.
The question that bears asking (no pun intended) is, what should we expect from the rook in year one?
Chicago’s front office did a great job of addressing its top needs ahead of the draft. That effectively allowed them to take the best player on their board whenever they were on the clock.
I mentioned that in each of the previous installments of this series, and the same notion applies here. Unlike previous seasons, where they would be relying on their second-round selection to make an immediate impact, they don’t necessarily need Turner to lock down a starting job from the jump. In fact, it would be naive to expect him to do so.
Something you can expect from Turner right away is for him to be a pivotal part of the interior rotation. While Andrew Billings has the starting nose tackle position locked down, Jarrett, Turner, and Gervon Dexter Sr. will all be vying for playing time next to him at the three-technique spot.
Speaking of Jarrett, it’s difficult to imagine a better player for him to learn behind, as they have a similar playing style and wrecking-ball mentality. The vet will probably have the most significant role of the three, but you shouldn’t count out Dexter taking a year-three leap. He showed real flashes early in the season last year. The six-foot-six, 312-pounder is a moldable ball of clay that new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen probably thinks he can turn into something special.
While Turner may not make a huge impact right out of the gate, there is no question regarding his talent. He was a former five-star prospect for a reason.
The 22-year-old lived up to the lofty billing during his time at College Station, too, and he was regularly being mocked in the first round before he was slowed by injuries throughout the ’24 season.
His burst and hand usage stand out amongst interior pass-rushers. Unless Jarrett and Dexter are both pushing the pocket at a near-elite level, those traits should allow him to have an early impact on third downs. Even with great depth at defensive tackle, I imagine the Bears coaching staff will want to tap into that nectar.
Something we probably won’t see as much from Turner in year one is him playing on first down. While he held his own against the run throughout his collegiate career, it was far from a strength of his game. He is a bit undersized at 290 pounds and tends to get swallowed up by double teams. As I previously mentioned, he could play more if the Bears needed him to. However, Jarrett, Billings, and Dexter are more than capable (and more equipped) to handle the early-down work and keep Turner fresh to do what he does best on third.
It’s also worth mentioning that Turner is only three pounds lighter and one inch shorter than Cameron Jordan, who reached seven Pro Bowls under Allen’s tutelage in New Orleans. He also has a similar burst and has a history of playing off the edge at A&M. I could see them deploying him as a chess piece all along the defensive line this season. That would also allow them to keep Odeyingbo as fresh as possible and maximize the defensive line’s potential.
Barring an injury to one of the other defensive tackles, I would be surprised to see Turner making a major impact on the box score in year one. However, I think they will utilize his versatility, and he will be a valuable asset to the defensive line rotation in year one.
Prediction: 30 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 1 FF
PHOTO: Kamil Krzaczynski/Imagn Images
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Categorized:Bears