The 2021 NFL Draft will be a great event for teams to start building for their future. Here is the Payton Turner 2021 NFL Draft Profile.
Position: Edge Rusher
Size: 6-foot-5, 270 pounds
Class: Senior
2020 stats: 25 total tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, 1 forced fumble
Turner missed the majority of his senior year of high school, but was able to get back to football at Houston. He has now molded himself into a solid draft prospect.
He starred in the city of Houston in high school and decided to stay in the city for his college career. Turner played a little bit as a freshman, totaling two tackles for loss and one sack. His role increased as a sophomore and he had 3.5 tackles for loss. Turner really broke out as a junior in 2019 when he had 7.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. Houston struggled to a 4-8 record. As a senior, Turner had 10.5 tackles for loss and five sacks in five games played. Unfortunately, his play couldn’t help lead Houston to a bowl game, as they finished the season with a 3-5 record.
After four seasons with the Cougars, Turner is going to the NFL. He is a projected second to fourth round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Payton Turner
At 6-foot-5 and 270 pounds, Turner has good height and weight for an edge rusher. He is the prototypical size for a defensive end and doesn’t get pushed around easily. In addition to his height and weight, Turner has great length with 35-inch arms. His length allows him to disengage with blocks easier.
His strength allows him to overpower smaller offensive tackles. He can push the pocket with a bull rush, disengage from blocks well and makes plays becuase of his strength. Turner will fit in well as a strong 4-3 defensive end with his good strength.
For his size, Turner has solid athleticism and flexibility. He is quick at the snap of the ball and carries that quickness throughout the play. Turner also has good agility to move laterally and get around tackles. He can bend and dip well too, which helps him win on the edge.
Turner’s pad level gets too high too often. He has great acceleration at the start of the play, but can lose some of his momentum as he stands up straight. If he can stay low, he will maintain his power throughout the play and be more effective.
While he can overpower weaker offensive tackles, Turner does struggle with strong offensive tackles. He needs to use his hands to help him disengage and use his flexibility to beat them on the edge. His power is solid, but he can be overmatched.
To be even more effective as a pass rusher, he can add more pass rushing counters to his game. If his first move is stopped, Turner doesn’t have a plan on how to beat the offensive lineman lining up across from him. Adding a few counters to his game would go a long way.
Projected Draft Range: Second Round Pick-Fourth Round Pick
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