2024 NFL Draft: Dallas Turner brings the rare mix of strength and athleticism off the edge that the Cardinals covet

Dallas Turner would be an immediate answer to the question on the edge for the Arizona Cardinals.

Over the next couple of weeks, leading up to the 2024 NFL Draft we will take a look at close to 30 prospects to know.

Within that, we will use the excellent work of Dane Brugler, who has just released his “The Beast” 2024 NFL Draft Guide. I highly recommend taking a peek and signing up for The Athletic if only to get Dane’s guide.

It is always an exhaustive work, and he should be commended.

With that said, we will go in order of Dane’s Big Board and use his final analysis as the wrap up of each prospect.

Next up is Dane’s 14th overall prospect, Dallas Turner, who could be the answer to the Arizona Cardinals pass rush question.

Dane’s Take:

A two-year starter at Alabama, Turner played the SAM linebacker position in former coach Nick Saban’s hybrid 3-4 scheme, lining up in both a two- and three-point stance. He had a mentor-apprentice relationship with 2023 first-round pick Will Anderson Jr. (they’re also best friends) and filled his shoes admirably in 2023, earning consensus All-American honors with an SEC-best 11 sacks.

Turner went 8.5, 4, 11 in his sack totals in his three seasons in Alabama and the 2022 season could be looked at as a bit of a disappointment. Yet, his rebound season, losing Will Anderson Jr. and then becoming the alpha on that defense that made the College Football Playoffs put to bed any questions.

As a pass rusher, Turner is quick off the ball to get underneath blocks or bury his hands into the chest of blockers to convert his speed to power. Despite lacking ideal bulk, he plays physically at the point of attack and is a strong run defender (aside from some missed tackles that need to be cleaned up) with an elite competitive motor.

That is the name of Turner’s game, he is physical and puts pressure on the offense every snap.

Yet, he has the other worldly athleticism that most game changing edge rushers possess as well.

Overall, Turner is a long, explosive edge rusher with the body twitch, hand usage and play strength to leverage blocks and be disruptive in multiple ways. He has the freaky tools to be a potential impact player in the NFL who should continue to improve as his body and rush attack mature.

What Turner brings is what Nick Rallis and Jonathan Gannon covet in their defensive edge players. Turner would be the ideal fit coming out of this draft on the edge, the question is how to they manuever to make that happen?

Next up… Byron Murphy II.