Chicago Bears rookie outlook: Can 2nd-round pick Shemar Turner harness his fire and earn snaps on the D-line?

Chicago Tribune

3 days ago

The Chicago Bears continued their offseason focus on the trenches when they drafted Texas A&M defensive tackle Shemar Turner with a second-round pick (No. 62) in April.
The Bears already had signed defensive tackle Grady Jarrett and defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo during free agency. But in Turner, general manager Ryan Poles and coach Ben Johnson saw a defensive tackle who plays with a fire they like.
Here's what Bears fans need to know about Turner before rookies report for training camp Saturday.
Turner was the Bears' third of three second-round picks after wide receiver Luther Burden and offensive tackle Ozzy Trapilo.
Despite adding Jarrett to a defensive tackle rotation that already included Gervon Dexter, Andrew Billings, Zacch Pickens, Chris Williams and Jonathan Ford, the Bears put a high priority on adding depth to the defensive line in the draft. Turner might have his work cut out for him trying to find playing time in the rotation, but the Bears like his upside and this could be more of a long-term play.
Just two years ago, Poles drafted Dexter and Pickens in the second and third rounds, respectively. Dexter has become a fixture on the defensive line, but Pickens hasn't produced much in somewhat limited opportunities. He appeared in only nine games last season, missing six because of a preseason groin injury.
If Turner is going to compete for snaps, Pickens could be the one in danger of losing his.
Turner grew up in the Dallas area and went to DeSoto High School, which has produced two dozen NFL players. He played alongside Seattle Seahawks 2024 first-round pick Byron Murphy on the defensive line and emerged as a top recruit in the Class of 2021.
He committed to coach Jimbo Fisher and Texas A&M and began his career with the Aggies as a defensive tackle, then switched to defensive end during his sophomore and junior seasons. He remained at Texas A&M after Fisher was fired following the 2023 season.
When new coach Mike Elko and his staff arrived, they moved Turner back to tackle. Turner said he gained 30 pounds ahead of the 2024 season in order to make the position switch. In 12 games last season he totaled 36 tackles, 5½ tackles for a loss and two sacks.
He suffered a stress fracture before the 2024 season and had surgery to insert a rod into his leg. The injury never healed properly and he played through it for the entire season. Turner did participate in the Bears offseason program and said he is 100% healthy now.
Turner plays with an edge. That's what the Bears need on a defensive line that fell off late in 2024.
But there's also a fine line. Turner was thrown out of a game against Mississippi in November 2023 for throwing multiple punches.
'Playing with fire like that is always good, but you've got to know how to control it,' he said. 'You can't let it control you. I feel like keeping it at a certain level, like right on the line, I could stay right on the line but just don't cross it and, man, I'll have a great career.'
It's unclear how much playing time Turner will see as a rookie with a crowded depth chart at defensive tackle. If he can bring that fire when he does see the field, opposing offensive lines will feel it.
For a player who moved back to tackle only last year, there could be a bit of an adjustment period in the NFL. Bears director of player personnel Trey Koziol suggested as much on draft night.
'Being able to be in a room with guys like Grady Jarrett and these veteran players, Andrew Billings and Gervon and these guys that have done it,' Koziol said, 'just to be able to take a little bit of what all those guys do and make it your own — I still think there's a lot of meat on the bone there in terms of that.
'Honestly, (it was) his first year doing it (at defensive tackle). But it'll be really fun. I know the coaches are really excited to work with him.'
During the spring practice period, Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen suggested Turner is far from a finished product.
'We'll have to put the saddle on him and break him a little bit, you know?' said Allen, who also grew up in Texas and played at Texas A&M.
The analogy might be hokey, but the sentiment makes some sense. With Jarrett, Dexter and Billings all likely to see a heavy volume of snaps, Turner won't have a ton of pressure to produce quickly. That's not always the case for players chosen in the second round.
For Allen, Turner's athleticism is the first thing that shows up on the tape.
'You see explosion and power with this player,' he said. 'I think he's got the right temperament for what we're looking for.'
On the first day of rookie minicamp in May, the Bears practiced on the outdoor field farthest from their Halas Hall training facility. It's a bit of a walk at the sprawling facility. Players typically will take a short ride in golf carts.
But ahead of his first NFL practice, Turner declined the golf cart.
'It was surreal,' he said. 'Instead of taking a cart to the field, I walked and just tried to soak it in, a dream come true. Finally getting to do what I've been wanting to do for my whole life.'
Turner will have many more of those welcome-to-the-NFL moments as he goes through his rookie season.
Turner needs to show he can harness his aggressive style in a productive manner. With veterans above him on the depth chart, preseason games should be an invaluable opportunity for him to showcase what he can do. Expect him to see a fair amount of playing time in the three exhibitions.
His most productive season in college, statistically speaking, came in 2023 when he was playing as an edge rusher. He needs to continue to show growth as a tackle and use his explosiveness to disrupt the quarterback from the middle.
Turner might not emerge as a starter right away, and the Bears probably would be OK with that. But if fans can feel his presence when they start showing up for open practices at Halas Hall, that would be a good thing.