Edge Rusher Dallas Turner Doesn’t Look That Motivated

After studying seven games of Alabama edge rusher Dallas Turner and another six games in 2023, I can officially say for the record, he is not a first-round value in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft.

Shhh…don’t tell that to over 95% of mainstream NFL Draft platforms that have tagged Turner as a first-rounder.

Barstool Sports, CBS, Walter Football, SB Nation, Sporting News, NFL.com, The Athletic, Draft Kings, NBC Sports Chicago, Pro Football Network, Pro Football Focus, Bleacher Report, 247Sports, Fox Sports, Ourlads, Newsday and the NY Post all have logged Turner with a first-round valuation and that’s just since January (nflmockdraftdatabase.com).

Going by his ‘raw traits’ I kind of get it, but if I would use one word to describe my experience watching his 2023 game film, this would be the word I would use in pre-draft scouting meetings on a team’s scouting staff.

Inconsistent.

I can excuse a lot of things as an evaluator, but a lack of effort is not one of them.

How did Turner look on the game film?

There were numerous times in these games when Turner was seen jogging or slamming on the brakes on active plays, and that is inexcusable.

But, then you watch the end of the Old Miss and Georgia games, he looks like a stud.

Mirror, mirror on the wall, which Turner is going to show up on game day?

Because the LSU and Texas game film shows the polar opposite.

To further paint the picture ⎯he’s a brute bully by nature. That’s a constant, but that’s also all he is, and his playing speed is so-so and he has some stiffness that keeps him from making quick adjustments in the pocket (that’s not good).

The other big issue is Turner is, he’s a vanilla pass rusher. In other words, he doesn’t show much in the way of pass-rush moves.

I saw one spin move in six games. His grade must be discounted for this.

It’s bull rush or nothing.

The same problems showed up in 2022 and 2023

Scouting is all about being able to identify patterns and traits (not the one-off) over a sustained period and with Turner, many of the same ‘issues’ showed up in 2022 and 2023.

That’s a real concern.

He also lacked pass-rush moves and speed to win the edge and relied on the same damn bull rush.

Stiffness⎯Turner has some stiffness in his movements too.

The game film doesn’t lie. The risk must be accounted for and reflected in his grade.

#15 Dallas Turner 6-foot-4, 242 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s 2024 NFL Draft Grade: Second-Round (I wouldn’t select him)

Projected by 96.0% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of February 16, 2024 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

Drop in Sacks Highlight Football Resume of Dallas Turner (7 games evaluated)

2023 game film reviewed: LSU, Texas, Arkansas, Ole Miss, Tennessee, and Georgia (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

2023 stats: 53 tackles (28 solo), 25 assists and 10 sacks

Note: Per Pro Football Focus 50 quarterback pressures (2023)

2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Brute power elementary pass rusher with the ability to do this, but plays with a sputtering motor. Projects more as a pressure guy than a sack artist at the next level. Sturdy equally distributed muscular frame. Lines up standing up or with his hand down in the dirt. Flip flops and tests both sides of the line of scrimmage. Methodical. Strong natural strength. Long arms. Above average, but not blow the doors off the tackle speed. Lacks imagination as a pass rusher. No pizazz. Delivers jolt initially at the point of contact but tends to stall out. Gets movement based on natural strength, not naturally explosive from his hips. Unable to make quick and sudden needed adjustments in the pocket. Fairly ineffective against the run and even less motivated. Ends up around the pile a lot. Can keep up with running backs and tight ends and appears solid in coverage. Might project better to a cover linebacker.

Final words

The only reason I moved him up from the third to the second round on my board is because of the sack increase going from 4 (2022) to 10 (2023).

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, contributes at Yardbarker, and has written for Sports Illustrated Lions, Jets, and 49ers, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. He can be followed on Twitter @firstroundmock.