Dallas Turner NFL Draft Overview
Dallas Turner was asked about declaring for the NFL Draft, but the fierce pass rusher left no doubt deciding to declare for the draft. Turner made a great decision as he is a stud three-down edge rusher ready for primetime. Turner was a 5-star top 10 recruit out of the prestigious St Thomas Aquinas in Florida where he then committed to Alabama University. Immediately, Turner lived up to the hype with 8.5 sacks and 10 tackles for loss earning All-Sec freshman team honors. Turner along with the entire Alabama defensive play dipped in 2022 which led to some questions as well as some coaching firings.
Heading into the 2023 season, there were some questions about whether Turner could carry the Alabama defense without Will Anderson, and to everyone’s surprise he delivered. Turner had a season for the ages with nine sacks and 13 tackles for loss. Turner showcased improved power along with added pass-rush moves in his arsenal. Dallas earned SEC defensive player of the year and first-team All-American for that season. I believe Turner is a first-round pick, but can he be an elite NFL edge rusher? Let’s dig into the film and find out!
Position: Edge Rusher
Height: 6″4 (Unofficial)
Weight: 252 (Unofficial)
Age: 20 years old
School: Alabama
Dallas Turner Player Evaluation
Turner’s Strengths
- He has a good explosion in his first step and covers the ground easily
- Good bend and closes on the QB quickly
- Much improved pass rush repertoire. Dip-rip and Ghost rush are his top two moves. Has nice stutter hesitation and dip inside counter move.
- Good enough bull rush to keep OT honest can get better with added weight
- Good Frame to add bulk and weight
- In two two-point stance solid vs the run by taking good angles and being physical. Sets the edge nicely, especially on odd fronts
- An explosive first step allows easy penetration for tackles for loss on stunts and run slants.
- Fluid Coverage ability can be a weapon in schemes that love versatility
Turner’s Weakness
- Needs to add Strength and Muscle. A lot of his weaknesses are due to a lack of strength.
- His physicality improved in 2023, For an Edge with major high first-round hype needs to improve his violence in the run game.
- Get stuck on blocks in the run game and stop his feet. Not consistently shedding blocks
- Too many times Tight Ends successfully Blocks him. Should never be blocked by a TE.
- Needs to continue to refine his pass-rush plan and moves to be more consistent.
Projection: Late first-round to Early second-round pick
NFL Comparison: Yannick Ngakoue or Brian Burns
Best Fits: Miami Dolphins, Baltimore Ravens, and Minnesota Vikings.
Bottom Line
Overall Dallas Turner is a first-round talent who could be a day-one starter in the NFL. His best position in my opinion is standing up as an Edge Outside Linebacker in an odd front 3-4 defensive scheme. With NFL training and weight room Turner has the ideal frame to bulk up quickly to get his body ready for a 17-game season. Combine that with Turner’s first-step explosiveness, ability to make splash plays in the run game, fluidity in coverage, and rapid pass-rush improvement. Dallas is in a stacked d-linemen class with talents like Laiatu Latu and Jer’Zhan Newton. However, to reach Pro Bowl potential Turner must get stronger, and if he does watch out.
Watch: Sleeper Running Back Film Study
Main Photo Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
