The Chicago Bears were offensively focused through their first three draft picks. They added a playmaking tight end, an explosive wide receiver, and a gigantic offensive tackle in quick succession. It was evident that head coach Ben Johnson dictated what the team was doing. However, there was no way he and GM Ryan Poles could go through the first two days without providing some help for Dennis Allen's defense. That came in the form of Texas A&M defensive tackle Shemar Turner.
It was easy for many to overlook the 22-year-old. He'd shared a defensive line with the more popular Nic Scourton and Shemar Stewart. It didn't help that his production dipped in 2024, notching only two sacks after posting six in 2023. This was brought about by scheme issues and a fractured shin he had to play through. That didn't stop Stewart from doing his job, though. The Bears believe they got an animal for their new front. When you hear the rookie talk about his football mentality, you realize he might've been a serial killer in another life.
Shemar Turner injects much-needed violence into the Bears' front.
When you talk about guys who take it right to the edge, he is the poster child. Shemar Turner earned a reputation in college for playing with a mean streak. He'd get so riled up that it often led to unnecessary roughness penalties. Poles said the lack of self-control can be problematic, but he'd much rather have a player with that killer mentality than one who didn't. It is much easier to rein somebody in than the other way around. Shemar Turner is a hunter. His only goal is to snatch the soul of every offensive lineman and quarterback he comes across. The best part is he'll be taking lessons from Grady Jarrett, one of the best to do it over the past ten years. If Turner plays up to his potential, he could transform the Bears' entire identity up front.
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