Chicago Bears novice outlook: Can 2nd-round pick Shemar Turner harness
The Chicago Bears continued their offseason concentrate on the trenches when they prepared Texas A&M defensive deal with Shemar Turner with a second-round pick (No. 62) in April.
The Bears currently had signed protective take on Grady Jarrett and protective end Dayo Odeyingbo during free agency. But in Turner, general supervisor Ryan Poles and coach Ben Johnson saw a defensive tackle who plays with a fire they like.
Here’s what Bears fans need to learn about Turner before novices report for training school Saturday.
How did he get here?
Turner was the Bears’ third of 3 second-round choices after pass receiver Luther Problem and offensive tackle Ozzy Trapilo.
Despite including Jarrett to a protective deal with rotation that currently consisted of Gervon Dexter, Andrew Billings, Zacch Pickens, Chris Williams and Jonathan Ford, the Bears put a high top priority on including depth to the defensive line in the draft. Turner may have his work cut out for him looking for playing time in the rotation, however the Bears like his advantage and this could be more of a long-lasting play.
Just two years ago, Poles prepared Dexter and Pickens in the second and third rounds, respectively. Dexter has become a component on the protective line, but Pickens hasn’t produced much in somewhat restricted chances. He appeared in just nine games last season, missing out on 6 since of a preseason groin injury.
If Turner is going to contend for snaps, Pickens could be the one in risk of losing his.
Where did he come from?
Turner grew up in the Dallas area and went to DeSoto High School, which has actually produced 2 dozen NFL players. He played together with Seattle Seahawks 2024 first-round pick Byron Murphy on the protective line and became a top hire in the Class of 2021.
He dedicated to coach Jimbo Fisher and Texas A&M and began his profession with the Aggies as a protective tackle, then changed to protective end throughout his sophomore and junior seasons. He remained at Texas A&M after Fisher was fired following the 2023 season.
When brand-new coach Mike Elko and his staff showed up, they moved Turner back to deal with. Turner stated he acquired 30 pounds ahead of the 2024 season in order to make the position switch. In 12 games last season he totaled 36 takes on, 5 1/2 tackles for a loss and 2 sacks.
He suffered a stress fracture before the 2024 season and had surgery to place a rod into his leg. The injury never recovered appropriately and he played through it for the entire season. Turner did take part in the Bears offseason program and stated he is 100% healthy now.
Why did the Bears draft him?
Texas A&M protective lineman Shemar Turner (5) attacks against Arkansas offending lineman Keyshawn Blackstock on Sept. 28, 2024, in Arlington, Texas.(Julio Cortez/AP)
Turner has fun with an edge. That’s what the Bears need on a protective line that fell off late in 2024. However there’s also a great line. Turner was thrown out of a game versus Mississippi in November 2023 for throwing numerous punches.”Playing with fire like that is always excellent, but you have actually got to know how to manage it,” he stated. “You can’t let it manage you. I seem like keeping it at a specific level, like right on the line, I might remain right on the line but simply don’t cross it and, male, I’ll have a great profession.”
It’s unclear just how much playing time Turner will view as a novice with a crowded depth chart at defensive take on. If he can bring that fire when he does see the field, opposing offending lines will feel it.
For a player who moved back to deal with only in 2015, there might be a little bit of an adjustment duration in the NFL. Bears director of player workers Trey Koziol recommended as much on draft night.
“Having the ability to be in a space with guys like Grady Jarrett and these veteran players, Andrew Billings and Gervon and these guys that have actually done it,” Koziol stated, “simply 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 great deal of meat on the bone there in terms of that.
“Honestly, (it was) his very first year doing it (at protective deal with). However it’ll be really enjoyable. I understand the coaches are actually delighted to deal with him.”
What his coaches said
Shemar Turner(95)works out throughout Bears arranged group activities in the Walter Payton Center at Halas Hall on Might 21, 2025, in Lake Forest.(John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) During the spring practice period, Bears
defensive coordinator Dennis Allen recommended Turner is far from a finished product.”We’ll have to put the saddle on him and break him a bit, you know?” stated Allen, who also grew up in Texas and dipped into Texas A&M.
The analogy may be hokey, but the belief makes some sense. With Jarrett, Dexter and Billings all likely to see a heavy volume of snaps, Turner will not have a lots of pressure to produce rapidly. That’s not always the case for players chosen in the 2nd round.
For Allen, Turner’s athleticism is the first thing that appears on the tape.
“You see surge and power with this player,” he said. “I think he’s got the right personality for what we’re looking for.”
What he said
Bears prepare pick Shemar Turner speaks with the media after novice camp at Halas Hall on Might 9, 2025, in Lake Forest. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune) On the first day of novice minicamp in May, the Bears practiced on the outside field farthest from their Halas Hall training facility. It’s a bit of a walk at the sprawling center. Gamers generally will take a brief trip in golf carts.
But ahead of his very first NFL practice, Turner decreased the golf cart.
“It was surreal,” he stated. “Rather of taking a cart to the field, I strolled and simply tried to soak it in, a dream come to life. Finally getting to do what I’ve been wishing to provide for my whole life.”
Turner will have a lot more of those welcome-to-the-NFL moments as he goes through his novice season.
What he requires to show throughout training camp
Turner requires to reveal he can harness his aggressive design in a productive manner. With veterans above him on the depth chart, preseason games should be an invaluable chance for him to showcase what he can do. Expect him to see a reasonable quantity of playing time in the 3 exhibitions.
His most productive season in college, statistically speaking, came in 2023 when he was playing as an edge rush. He requires to continue to reveal growth as a tackle and use his explosiveness to interfere with the quarterback from the middle.
Turner may not become a starter immediately, and the Bears probably would be okay with that. But if fans can feel his presence when they start appearing for open practices at Halas Hall, that would be an advantage.