Shemar Turner may be just a rookie, but as a second-round pick out of Texas A&M, the Chicago Bears clearly expect him to contribute right away. That expectation lands him inside the top 20 of our most important players on the 2025 roster.
Ranking Most Important Bears on 2025 Roster: Number 20 — Shemar Turner
Turner slipped slightly in the draft because of concerns about his frame and questions about how much mass he can add to consistently hold his ground against double teams in the run game. For his rookie year, the plan is to use him primarily as a rotational pass rusher, and that’s a role this defense badly needs.
Grady Jarrett and Gervon Dexter are slated to start and play most of the snaps as the team’s most well-rounded interior linemen. However, Jarrett is aging, and Dexter’s pass rush production has been inconsistent. Andrew Billings will rotate in as well, but his skill set is limited to stopping the run. That makes Turner’s specialty as an interior disruptor on passing downs incredibly valuable.
Turner can pair with any of the three starters as the designated penetrator who creates quick pressure while the others focus on holding the point of attack. While Billings is critical to keeping the run game in check, Turner’s ability to get after the quarterback is what will get the defense off the field on third downs or force mistakes that lead to turnovers.
Just as important as his immediate impact is his long-term development. Both Jarrett and Billings are on the wrong side of 30 and have missed time in the past. The Bears can’t count on them as full-time players much longer, and Turner’s growth this year could set the stage for him to take on a starting role soon.
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The ideal outcome for Turner in 2025 is to start the season as a situational player, prove himself as a pass rusher, and begin pushing for more snaps by year’s end.