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Buffalo Bills 2021 NFL Draft Prospect to Know: DE Payton Turner

By Brandon Croce

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - SEPTEMBER 19: Payton Turner #98 of the Houston Cougars celebrates a tackle during the first half of a game against the Tulane Green Wave at Yulman Stadium on September 19, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - SEPTEMBER 19: Payton Turner #98 of the Houston Cougars celebrates a tackle during the first half of a game against the Tulane Green Wave at Yulman Stadium on September 19, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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The defensive end position is one the Buffalo Bills will want to address during the 2021 NFL Draft. If they elect to go in another direction in the first round, a player on Day 2 the Bills could target is defensive end Payton Turner out of the University of Houston. Let’s take a closer look at his profile and how he might with the Buffalo Bills.

Measurables/Stats

Height: 6’5″

Weight: 270 pounds

Arms: 35″

Hands: 10.25″

Payton Turner played 36 games over four seasons and had 114 total tackles, 9.5 sacks, 23.5 tackles for a loss, one interception, and nine passes defended. It was over the past two seasons that Turner really started to establish himself as an edge defender and had 8.5 sacks and 18 tackles for a loss during that stretch.

NFL.com Scouting Report by Lance Zierlein

"Three-year starter who has shown a continued level of positional growth that requires the attention of NFL evaluators. Turner is a big, long 4-3 defense end with natural play strength and a surprising level of bend and agility for his size. His technique and footwork are a little spotty, though. He plays with a narrow base and tall pad level, which will always be something he has to work around. He’s growing into his frame and his talent. The tape shows a player who is beginning to understand his own strength and athletic potential. His pass rush plan is limited, but he has a go-to move that opens the door to quarterbacks. Once he gets an advantage, he is an absolute menace to recover against for blockers. His size and play traits will have both odd- and even-front defenses interested in him as a talented three-down starter who is still on the way up."

Highlights

How he fits with the Buffalo Bills

When looking at this class of defensive ends, Payton Turner is one of my favorites when considering what he brings and what the Buffalo Bills will be looking for. He has great size as a defensive end at 6’5″ and 270 pounds and can be a three-down defensive end in this defense.

He has shown improved performance every season while at the University of Houston but still needs some time to develop more. This is where he really fits with this defense and this position.

The Buffalo Bills are currently an older group at the top with Mario Addison and Jerry Hughes and towards the end of their career. However, this coming season they should still be the starters and see about 50% of the snaps. This will then give the Bills a chance to bring Turner along slowly in a similar fashion to what they did with A.J. Epenesa last year.

Next. 7 round mock draft for Bills including trade for Zach Ertz. dark

The team has the previously mentioned Epenesa, along with Efe Obada, to be those third and fourth players to rotate at the position while working Turner in slowly. This will give him a chance to develop and be in position to take over as a starter in his second season.

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