DJ Turner 2023 NFL Draft Profile
DJ Turner was one of the fastest-rising corners at the 2023 NFL Combine. The Michigan corner used his blazing 40-time to set himself apart from other players at the position. That doesn’t mean he can play, though. Let’s take look at Turner’s draft profile and discuss where he stands in a stacked cornerback class.
Turner was a three-star recruit heading into college. The Florida native opted to attend Michigan where he would stay for four seasons. In that time, Turner was a starter in his final two seasons. Those two years resulted in good production as he received All-Big Ten honors both years.
Turner will get a boost in his draft stock for attending Michigan. While Michigan has not produced an elite corner since Charles Woodson, the school has seen players like Jourdan Lewis, David Long Jr. and Ambry Thomas produce in the NFL. More importantly, Michigan has a pro-style defense that prepares players for the league, which can be seen in Turner played under Mike McDonald in 2021. After that season, McDonald left Michigan to become the Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator.
Strengths
As mentioned, Turner saw his draft stock rise at the 2023 NFL Combine. This is a result of his impressive testing. Turner ran a 4.26 40, which was the quickest of the draft cycle. He also jumped well with a vertical of 38.5 feet and a broad jump of 10 feet and eleven inches. Unfortunately, Turner did not participate in on-field drills.
Thankfully, Turner’s speed translates to the field. He’s able to utilize his speed to stick with guys in man coverage or cover a massive area in zone coverage. He also has solid fundamentals. Turner has fluid hips and solid footwork. That is not to say he is elite either in either realm, but he is good.
I also love Turner’s versatility. At the pro level, Turner should be equally good in man and zone coverage. Teams will not need to hide him in either scheme. Additionally, Turner played most of his snaps on the outside in college, but he was able to step into the slot on occasion. In the NFL, he could provide some positional versatility.
Weaknesses
The biggest issue with Turner is his size. At the combine, he measured in at 5-foot-11, 178 pounds, with 30.75-inch arms. That makes it difficult for Turner to compete at the catch point. Yes, Turner plays physically and has the ability to break up passes. Although, against bigger receivers, he is less effective.
The size also translates to poor tackling. Once again, Turner is more than willing to tackle, but he will make mistakes and miss tackles.
Outside of size, Turner does not have great ball skills. In his college career, he only had three interceptions. Once the ball is in the air, Turner is not as strong in coverage.
Turner could also get in trouble with his hands at the next level. Despite not getting flagged a ton, Turner can get grabby. If that is not cleaned up he may get penalized in the NFL.
Lastly, Turner was less productive against elite competition. In games against, Ohio State and TCU Turner was not as effective. Against average Big Ten offenses, Turner looked outstanding, but he was far more human in big games. That is possibly his biggest red flag heading into the NFL.
2023 NFL Draft Stock
Turner is an interesting name in the 2023 cornerback class. I would be willing to take him as early as the middle of the second round. If his name is still on the board in round three then he becomes a much more appealing selection. That said, this year’s cornerback class is full of talent. It may be possible to find better players in that range depending on how the board falls. Ultimately, I am in on Turner and would be willing to draft him, but I am not going out of my way to ensure he is on my team.
***
CLICK HERE for more of our NFL Draft content
Check out the Vendetta Shop
Subscribe to Vendetta’s YouTube
