The New Orleans Saints strayed from the norm at No. 28, selecting Houston defensive lineman Payton Turner.
Turner offers plenty of versatility at the next level, showcasing the ability to play as a traditional edge rusher, or both a 5-technique and 3-technique in either a 4-3 or 3-4 base scheme. He is an athletic prospect who accelerates well off the snap and possesses very good lateral quickness in the open field for his size.
Turner has a lengthy frame and uses his long arms, along with his polished use of his hands, to lock blockers out of his frame and penetrate the backfield. He exploded with 5 sacks and 10.5 tackles for a loss in five games in 2020.
Though a bit of a surprising pick given Turner being a bit raw in run support, the ceiling that comes with the Saints selecting him is high. Seeing their success in taking a similar type of prospect in Marcus Davenport should have New Orleans fans excited for Turner’s long-term projection.
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