Michigan football NFL Draft profiles: CB DJ Turner
Michigan football transformed its secondary over the last few years, which helped fuel arguably the best two-year stretch in program history with its on-field accomplishments. The emergence of cornerback DJ Turner played a large role in that, giving the Wolverines a speedy, physical press-man corner that has a shot to take his skill set to the NFL.
Turner, who ran the fourth-fastest 40-yard dash in NFL Combine history (4.26 seconds), was a two-time All-Big Ten selection (second team coaches, third team media in 2022; honorable mention 2021) and appeared in 36 games with 22 starts at cornerback. He was one of the team’s Most Improved Player picks in 2021, in addition to grabbing Defensive Skill Player of the Year from Michigan. Turner had three career interceptions in Ann Arbor and had 20 passes defended over the last two seasons.
Here is a look at how Turner profiles to the next level.
DJ Turner’s background
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 178 pounds
School: Michigan
Position: Cornerback
Projected: 1st-2nd round pick
Strengths
Turner proved how explosive he was at the NFL Combine with his 40-yard dash time, which opened some eyes across the country. He does a lot of things well on the field, whether it be mirroring routes or flipping his hips, and generally speaking, is technically sound. Turner does not have the biggest frame, but he is not afraid to get physical at the line of scrimmage and is more than willing to come and lay a big hit. Michigan mixed up its coverages over the last two years, so he has plenty of experience in zone and man situations. There might not be one single trait to hang his hat on, but all of what he brings mixed with his competitive nature makes him one of the more rounded corner prospects in this class.
Weaknesses
The Michigan corner has a slight frame, which could work against him when going up against the Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase-types of the world. He has no issue competing, but bigger receivers are going to knock him around. His lack of length could hold him back in defending 50/50 balls, too. He is a willing tackler, but he needs to convert more of his speed to power to be a more disruptive striker. Turner has also been guilty of arm-tackling at times, which led to some big plays last season.
DJ Turner overview
We knew that Turner was fast, but his 4.26 40-yard dash at the combine was eye-opening. Add that to the mix of a guy who has strong technique and competitive traits and it is not hard to see why scouts think he had first-round potential during the pre-draft process. The NFL loves an elite tool or two that it can mold into a pro, but it values availability above all else. Turner can come in and make an impact from the jump and steady a team’s cornerback room.
Turner feels like one of the higher-floor players at his position in this class. Michigan put a lot on his plate and he more than held his own. You might like to see some more ballhawk capabilities, but Turner has the toolkit to be one of the more solid cover cornerbacks in the league. It would not be a surprise to see him plug in and play right away as a rookie starter in the league, but his best fit is probably as a complement to an already-established No. 1.
