Dallas Turner — NFL Mock Draft Roundup 1.0

The Falcons have been on a seemingly never-ending journey to find pass rushers. They didn't have a player record more than 6.5 sacks in 2023. Turner has a broad arsenal of tools to help Atlanta.

There was some hope that the playoffs would allow the Eagles to reset and break their late-season slump. Instead, the defending NFC Champions make an early exit from the playoffs having lost 6 of their last 7 games wondering what went wrong. Philadelphia's roster is still stacked with talent, but just couldn't match last year's production, particularly along the defensive line.

Matching last season's franchise record-setting 70 sacks was never a realistic goal, but the fall off to just 43 sacks this season is crushing. Depending on how confident the Eagles are in the development of 2023 RD 1 pick Nolan Smith who plays sparingly as a rookie, Philly could look to add some pass rush help.

Alabama's Dallas Turner could be the perfect complement to Haason Reddick and Josh Sweat. Turner showed steady improvement throughout his time at Alabama, learning to pair his first-step quickness with an arsenal of pass-rush moves. Turner could help close the sack gap and create enough disruption to take some pressure off the secondary, which Philadelphia will likely need to address on Day 2 of the draft.

Atlanta had the lowest team pressure rate (9.9%) last season, according to TruMedia. Dallas Turner would give the Falcons more juice at the position. The division is very winnable again next season if they can figure out their quarterback conundrum.

The Vikings replenish the edge-rusher group given the uncertainty of Danielle Hunter's future.

In this scenario, the Falcons have traded for Justin Fields and now address another pressing need in pass rush with Dallas Turner, one of the draft's better edge rushers.

Half of the Bears' fan base will be upset with me going Williams at No. 1, and the other half will be cussing me out for having three wide receivers off the board before this pick. But those are realistic scenarios.

Even with the in-season trade for Montez Sweat, Chicago will be in the market for another impact pass rusher. An ideal fit in Matt Eberflus' scheme, Turner is a freak athlete who rushes the passer, stops the run and should continue to get better and better.

A year after taking Will Anderson Jr. in the top three, why not add his former teammate in Dallas Turner to continue to build DeMeco Ryans' defense? Houston is going to be around a LONG time in the AFC, and adding a twitched-up sack artist like Turner will make the Texans that much better. Anderson Jr. on one side and Turner on the other? Ab-so-lutely.

Dallas Turner may not blow you away with his measurables, but his athletic prowess and on-field film will certainly knock your socks off. He was as dominant as any edge rusher over the past half-dozen seasons.

Turner fires off the line of scrimmage with ferocity and pace. He'll use a plethora of pass-rush moves to get past any defender in front of him and plays in space just as well. Turner is absolutely a game-changing player for a defense in need of an injection of talent.

Could Belichick end up coaching the Falcons next season? If so, he'd likely pester GM Terry Fontenot to target Turner in the draft. Turner was overshadowed by Will Anderson Jr. his previous two seasons at Tuscaloosa — he had 8.5 sacks as a true freshman in 2021 — but he's capable of being a star in his own right. This season, the AP All-American added some bulk to his frame and displayed more power to go with his already impressive speed-rush capabilities.

Danielle Hunter had a fantastic 2023 season, but the Minnesota Vikings need to add someone opposite him who can create pressure on the quarterback. Dallas Turner had double-digit sacks at Alabama this season despite being just 20.

There's a lot of debate about who the top pass rusher is in this class, but it's hard to pass up Turner and his production.

The first defensive player to come off the board, Turner is as athletic as they come in the front seven. In 2022, so much of his game was built around speed, but the strength strides he made in 2023 have turned him into a top 12 prospect.

He'll play his entire rookie season as a 21-year-old, with a massive pass rush ceiling in front of him.

Cameron Jordan is 34 years old and coming off his least productive season since his rookie year. Carl Granderson picked up some of the slack, but it's clear New Orleans needs more help on the edge — particularly young, inexpensive help.

Turner could be a bargain here as a blue chip prospect with all the physical bonafides of a perennial Pro Bowler. He's got the chops to put up a truly stupid 40 time at the Combine at 245-ish pounds, showcasing both the speed and power needed to be a consistent presence on Sundays. He had 10 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss in 14 games for the Crimson Tide last fall.

The midseason Montez Sweat trade improved the Bears' defense, but Chicago still finished 31st in sacks (30). Pairing Sweat with Turner would suddenly give Chicago an exciting young duo off the edge. Turner needs to add more pass-rush moves, but he has continued to get better each season of his career, posting a career-high 10 sacks in 2023. His 16.7% pressure rate was also eighth best in the FBS. And at 6-foot-4 and 242 pounds, Turner comes with versatility and is comfortable dropping in coverage.

The Broncos were fifth in the league in blitz percentage, but were only 29th in pressure rate. What they need is a natural pass rusher. The 6-foot-4, 250-pound edge had 22.5 sacks in his career at Alabama.