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GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 12: DJ Turner II #20 of the Cincinnati Bengals in action against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on October 12, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) Getty
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BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - NOVEMBER 27: DJ Turner II #20 of the Cincinnati Bengals breaks up a pass intended for Zay Flowers #4 of the Baltimore Ravens during the first quarter in the game at M&T Bank Stadium on November 27, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) Getty
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BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - NOVEMBER 27: DJ Turner II #20 and Joe Burrow #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals eat the Thanksgiving meal after the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on November 27, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images) Getty
The Cincinnati Bengals watched DJ Turner II emerge as one of the NFL’s more difficult cornerbacks to throw against last season.
Pro Football Focus apparently wants to see more before placing him among the league’s elite.
PFF released its ranking of the NFL’s top 32 cornerbacks on Aug. 7 and placed Turner at No. 17.
The spot feels low for a player whose coverage numbers stacked up with many of the best at the position in 2025.
Turner finished seventh among qualified cornerbacks with a 78.1 PFF coverage grade and tied for second in the NFL with 13 pass breakups during the regular season.
PFF described his coverage prowess as a “core component” of Cincinnati’s defensive success.
That makes No. 17 difficult to ignore, especially after what PFF said about Turner earlier this offseason.
Turner II Lands Surprisingly Low in PFF Rankings
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GettyBALTIMORE, MARYLAND – NOVEMBER 27: DJ Turner II #20 of the Cincinnati Bengals breaks up a pass intended for Zay Flowers #4 of the Baltimore Ravens during the first quarter in the game at M&T Bank Stadium on November 27, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
The case for Turner being higher begins with PFF’s own February evaluation.
In its breakdown of the best perimeter cornerbacks from the 2025 season, PFF called Turner the “NFL’s best pass-defending cornerback.”
He finished first among 70 qualifying cornerbacks with a 25.8% forced incompletion rate, fourth with a 46.8% catch rate allowed and ninth with an 11.2% targeted rate.
PFF also noted that Turner regularly drew opposing No. 1 receivers and forced incompletions at a 28.6% rate on third down, ninth among 63 cornerbacks who played at least 115 third-down coverage snaps.
Turner finished with a 73.3 overall PFF grade across 974 defensive snaps, along with two interceptions and 13 pass breakups. His 78.1 coverage grade was one of the best marks at his position.
There’s an explanation for why Turner didn’t land closer to the top 10.
His run defense remained a weakness.
Turner posted a 37.9 PFF run-defense grade, which ranked 105th at the position. PFF’s Aug. 7 ranking also specifically pointed to his run defense as the area lagging behind his coverage work.
Turner’s Contract Year Is Ahead
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GettyBALTIMORE, MARYLAND – NOVEMBER 27: DJ Turner II #20 and Joe Burrow #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals eat the Thanksgiving meal after the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on November 27, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images)
DJ Turner II enters his fourth NFL season with his future becoming one of the Bengals’ bigger personnel decisions.
The 2023 second-round pick is in the final year of his rookie contract.
Bengals cornerbacks coach Charles Burks told the team’s official website in June that Turner had made “the biggest turnaround” he had seen from a player, pointing to changes in Turner’s routine and how he takes care of his body.
Turner has kept the contract situation from becoming his focus.
When asked about personal goals during spring practices, he brushed aside the idea of setting statistical or Pro Bowl benchmarks.
“I don’t do that kind of thing,” Turner told Bengals.com.
Contract discussions have still been taking place.
Turner confirmed in June that the two sides were talking about an extension, although he declined to reveal details of those conversations.
Another season resembling 2025 would strengthen his value considerably.
If his run defense takes a step forward while his pass coverage holds, No. 17 could look conservative long before the 2026 season is over.
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