Shemar Turner is expected to bring an edge to the Chicago Bears' defensive line that the fanbase has been begging for.
It's a trait that Bears fans have been begging for since the 2023 NFL Draft. When faced with the possibility of taking Jalen Carter with the ninth overall selection, the Bears decided their locker room was not in a place to absorb Carter's presence and traded back one pick to select Darnell Wright. Nothing against Wright, who seems to be an anchor at right tackle for the Bears, but Carter has turned into the game-wrecker on the Philadelphia Eagles' defensive line that the Bears have sorely been without.
It seems that the Bears are getting a player with a similar mentality in Turner. Turner's defensive line coach at Texas A&M, Sean Spencer, recently spoke with Alex Shapiro of CHSN, and his takeaway on the Bears' second-round pick is everything that fans will want to hear.
"Sometimes the dog want to jump off the porch, you gotta hold him back on a leash," Spencer told Shapiro.
It seems that the Bears' defense hasn't had an agitator in a long time. An agitator in the sense of someone who will get under the opposing team's skin without costing his own team. Tyrique Stevenson is probably the closest Bears' player to that description, but his mental gaffes have hurt the Bears more than they have helped.
If the Bears are able to channel Turner's edge in a positive direction, that would be a massive step forward for their defensive line. The defensive line is still one of the biggest question marks on the Bears' roster. Turner is expected to be part of the rotation that will also include Andrew Billings and Gervon Dexter Sr.
If Turner and Dexter take a step forward in addressing that need, that would be a major development for the Bears' defensive line. Otherwise, it's fair to suggest that it will be the priority in the 2026 NFL Draft.