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Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles went to work on the trenches to finish out the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft. After picking up pick No. 62 as part of a trade with the Buffalo Bills, the Bears selected defensive tackle Shemar Turner out of Texas A&M.
Turner spent four years with the Aggies and has played all over the line. He has lined up on the inside and outside, producing as a violent rusher who can also defend the run. In four seasons, Turner totaled 115 tackles, 24 tackles for loss, and 10 sacks. He's a player who doesn't quit until the play is over and should be an asset in defensive coordinator Dennis Allen's system.
Here is our grade of the Bears' third and final selection of the second round:
It's always good to see a team invest high picks in the offensive and defensive lines, and after the Bears found a couple of playmakers early on, they went to work finding potential impact players. At first blush, the Turner selection didn't necessarily move the needle. There were seemingly other players who may have had more of an impact that were available, like Darius Alexander or Omar Normann-Lott. Or even an edge like Landon Jackson.
Still, Turner satisfies a need, and he provides plenty of versatility, which should be music to Allen's ears. The Bears can get creative with him on the line and move players around to create the right mismatch. Turner's best attributes are his motor and aggression, as well as using leverage to his advantage against blockers to be a disruptor. He doesn't necessarily blow up plays, but he slows them down considerably and uses that motor to clean up at or near the line of scrimmage.
The biggest concerns with Turner are his injury history and temper. Turner played the entire season with a stress fracture in his shin, which goes to show how tough he is and that his 2024 season probably would have looked even better had he been fully healthy. That's also concerning, though. Stress fractures could be problematic, and Bears fans know all too well how they can impact promising draft picks. Hopefully there is no further concern and Turner can reach his potential, but it's something to monitor.
Then there's Turner's temper. The defensive lineman runs hot and has put his team in tough positions with some of his unsportsmanlike conduct penalties. Most notably, Turner punched an opponent in the groin during a 2023 game, which caused him to be ejected. That energy will need to be channeled towards play on the field. Fortunately, Turner will have strong leaders like Grady Jarrett to lean on who can show him the ropes.
If Turner heals quickly and can channel his aggression into plays from whistle to whistle, this could turn out to be a very nice pick as the Bears look to fortify their defensive line. NFL analyst Lance Zierlein compared Turner to Baltimore Ravens star Nnamdi Madubuike, showing just what his ceiling can be if he reaches it. We'll see how quickly he gets adjusted and how his shin holds up.
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Grading the Bears' selection of DT Shemar Turner in the 2025 NFL Draft
Continue reading...
Turner spent four years with the Aggies and has played all over the line. He has lined up on the inside and outside, producing as a violent rusher who can also defend the run. In four seasons, Turner totaled 115 tackles, 24 tackles for loss, and 10 sacks. He's a player who doesn't quit until the play is over and should be an asset in defensive coordinator Dennis Allen's system.
Here is our grade of the Bears' third and final selection of the second round:
Draft details
- Pick No. 62
- Defensive tackle Shemar Turner
- Texas A&M
Initial grade: B
It's always good to see a team invest high picks in the offensive and defensive lines, and after the Bears found a couple of playmakers early on, they went to work finding potential impact players. At first blush, the Turner selection didn't necessarily move the needle. There were seemingly other players who may have had more of an impact that were available, like Darius Alexander or Omar Normann-Lott. Or even an edge like Landon Jackson.
Still, Turner satisfies a need, and he provides plenty of versatility, which should be music to Allen's ears. The Bears can get creative with him on the line and move players around to create the right mismatch. Turner's best attributes are his motor and aggression, as well as using leverage to his advantage against blockers to be a disruptor. He doesn't necessarily blow up plays, but he slows them down considerably and uses that motor to clean up at or near the line of scrimmage.
The biggest concerns with Turner are his injury history and temper. Turner played the entire season with a stress fracture in his shin, which goes to show how tough he is and that his 2024 season probably would have looked even better had he been fully healthy. That's also concerning, though. Stress fractures could be problematic, and Bears fans know all too well how they can impact promising draft picks. Hopefully there is no further concern and Turner can reach his potential, but it's something to monitor.
Then there's Turner's temper. The defensive lineman runs hot and has put his team in tough positions with some of his unsportsmanlike conduct penalties. Most notably, Turner punched an opponent in the groin during a 2023 game, which caused him to be ejected. That energy will need to be channeled towards play on the field. Fortunately, Turner will have strong leaders like Grady Jarrett to lean on who can show him the ropes.
If Turner heals quickly and can channel his aggression into plays from whistle to whistle, this could turn out to be a very nice pick as the Bears look to fortify their defensive line. NFL analyst Lance Zierlein compared Turner to Baltimore Ravens star Nnamdi Madubuike, showing just what his ceiling can be if he reaches it. We'll see how quickly he gets adjusted and how his shin holds up.
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Grading the Bears' selection of DT Shemar Turner in the 2025 NFL Draft
Continue reading...
