Payton Turner broke out in 2020, though he played in only five games. He’s a massive 6-6, 270 pounds (down from 290 pounds last year) with freakish measurables:
#Houston DL Payton Turner measured in at the #SeniorBowl at 6-5, 270 lbs, 84 inch wingspan, 35 inch arms.
— Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) January 26, 2021
Measureable percentiles vs NFL DEs:
HT: 88th
WT: 61st
Arms: 92nd
Wingspan: 99th
Played 4i at 290 fresh & soph years, dropped to 270 to play outside DE as junior & senior.
His wingspan is the highest recorded for an EDGE since 1999, which is impressive, to say the least.
Contained within that rare frame is impressive burst and bend, excellent power, and a fantastic motor. Turner is a high-effort player who flashed everything you could want from a base end playing opposite Myles Garrett. Turner is a ball of talent that just needs a bit of time to be molded.
Cleveland will likely spend a decent amount on a free agent EDGE (it could be J.J. Watt, who knows?) who can start for a year or two. Turner is still raw, and it will take some time for him to adjust to the NFL after playing for a power-five team, but using him as a designated pass-rusher while he develops into what he can be is a good plan.
His versatility will also be valuable in a defense that likes to use multiple looks up front. Turner could line up anywhere from the wide-nine to nose tackle in some situations. He’s a physical specimen in every sense of the word and has only just begun to scratch the surface of his potential.