How NFL experts graded the Bears' selection of Shemar Turner

The Chicago Bears finally got defensive coordinator Dennis Allen a new toy with the selection of Texas A&M defensive tackle Shemar Turner with the 62nd overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft. This selection was acquired in a trade with the Buffalo Bills, where Chicago moved back from 41st overall to land picks 56 and 62, along with a fourth rounder.

Turner, a three-year starter, is an explosive interior defender who's a solid run defender and fits the aggressive style of defense that Allen is looking to employ in Chicago. Last season with the Aggies, he totaled 36 tackles, including 5.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, one pass breakup and a forced fumble in 12 starts.

Turner joins a defensive line group that features interior defenders Gervon Dexter, Andrew Billings and newcomer Graddy Jarrett and edge rushers Montez Sweat and Dayo Odeyingbo.

Here’s a collection of all of the grades for Turner from various media outlets, where experts believe the Bears got an aggressive interior defender with a high ceiling.

USA Today: B-

USA Today's Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz: "Defensive line makes a sensible area for Ryan Poles to address after the Bears went heavy on offense early. Turner adds some juice to Chicago's front, though he's a bit wild to be entrusted as an every-down entity."

CBS Sports: B+

CBS Sports' Chris Trapasso: "Sleek penetrating DT who began his career on the edge in college. Athletic with long limbs. Change-of-direction is a plus to his profile. Not a power player who plays with quality leverage. More of a finesse type who wins with first-step quicks and stellar hand work. Prudent pick to learn behind Grady Jarrett."

Sports Illustrated: B-

Sports Illustrated's Matt Verderame: "After starting as an edge rusher, Turner added weight and took command of the three-technique role on the Aggies’ beefy defensive front. Turner made life easier for his teammates, including edge rushers Shemar Stewart and Nic Scourton, by exploding through gaps and gaining attention from offensive linemen. He’s an aggressive defender with high potential."

The Athletic: B

The Athletic's Nick Baumgardner: "Turner had some dominant flashes against the run and as a pocket pusher, while lining up all over the Aggies’ defensive line last season. He needs to be more gap sound but eventually could be a very disruptive three-tech for Chicago. The Bears are having a solid draft."

Pro Football Focus: Above Average

Pro Football Focus: "Turner graded better in 2023 — a trend that applied to the entire Texas A&M defensive line. He earned a 76.6 overall grade that season and showed positional versatility, playing across multiple defensive line spots in college. Turner plays with a high motor and active hands, and his 7.9% run-stop rate was a bright spot during the 2024 season."

Sporting News: A

Sporting News' Vinnie Iyer: "Turner is the ideal pick for the Bears to fill a key rotation need for a strong, compact power runner."

33rd Team: A-

33rd Team's Ian Valentino: "It's good to have charged-up subpackage players, and Shemar Turner fits the mold well. He was highly impressive on passing downs because of his quick burst into the lap of blockers. Turner has to get better against the run to become more than that, though."

Bleacher Report: C

Bleacher Report's Brent Sobleski: "The Chicago Bears clearly prioritized bolstering their defensive line this offseason. They brought in defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo and defensive tackle Grady Jarrett in free agency, and they continued to build their front seven by taking Texas A&M’s Shemar Turner with the 62nd overall pick. Chicago seemingly isn’t looking for defensive linemen who will consistently win at the point of attack. Instead, the Bears feature upfield disruptors. Stewart fits that bill. He and Odeyingbo can be interchangeable pieces. Pass-rush upside doesn't belong exclusively to one Texas A&M product. Turner is in the same boat as Shemar Stewart, albeit as an interior option. The latter converted from being a true edge-defender to an interior prospect, which could pay dividends in the long run."

For The Win: A

For The Win's Cory Woodroof: "New Bears defensive tackle Grady Jarrett has a new intern. Turner is a wonderful candidate to learn from one of the best defensive linemen of the last decade, as Jarrett can take Turner under his wing and teach him the ins and outs of the position. Turner could be a ferocious fixture on the Chicago defensive line for years to come. This is an awesome pick for the Windy City."

SB Nation: B-

SB Nation's Joseph Acosta: "Turner is a supremely athletic defensive tackle who can get up and down the line of scrimmage. In Dennis Allen’s one gap defense he could shore up some of their issues up the spine. If he keeps his penalties down, this could be nice value. Just wonder if better and more consistent players were on the board."

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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears draft Shemar Turner: Experts hand out grades for Chicago