Miami Dolphins: Houston DL Payton Turner an ideal mid-round target

Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores comes from the New England Patriots where versatility, especially across the defensive front seven, is incredibly important. The Dolphins have done a great job of stocking versatile front seven defenders who fit Flores’ system well in recent years and that is a big reason why the unit took a major step forward in 2020 (21.1 points allowed per game, as opposed to a league-worst 30.9 allowed in 2019).

Flores and company had this defense rolling last year and key versatile front seven defenders like Kyle Van Noy, Emmanuel Ogbah and Shaq Lawson (all of who were added in free agency last year) are a major reason why.

While their offense will likely be the priority, we should expect the Miami Dolphins to continue to look for front-seven defenders who can impact the game in a variety of ways this offseason. When looking ahead to the 2021 NFL Draft, Houston defensive lineman Payton Turner stands out as a strong fit because of this reason and should be a high-priority mid-round target for Miami.

Turner was a four-year contributor and three-year starter for Houston who played a variety of roles for the team up front. He only played in five games this past season, missing time with hand and knee injuries throughout the season. That being said, Turner showed more than enough throughout his college career to catch the attention of NFL teams.

Turner is a long, strong and versatile chess piece who could shine in Miami

At the Senior Bowl, Turner measured in at over 6-foot-5 and 270 pounds, but it was his 35-inch arms that really stood out. Turner has great length up front and he knows how to use it well. He does a great job of using his length to keep the opposing offensive lineman away from his body and shoots his hands out with impressive power. Turner shows the ability to win with the initial contact and use his hands to control the offensive lineman.

While he is not the most explosive player on the edge, Turner does display some nice short-area quickness and flexibility for a bigger edge rusher. He is never going to be mistaken for a dynamic speed rusher around the corner, but his quick feet can give him a massive advantage when he lines up inside.

There is some interior pass rush upside to his game, but Turner really stands out as a capable run defender who uses power, good technique and strong instincts to make a consistent impact against the rushing attack. In an ideal world, Turner feels like a player who can make an impact on early downs as a big edge defender and kick inside to rush the passer on obvious passing downs.

This kind of versatility coupled with Turner’s physicality and high motor up front make him an ideal fit for the Miami Dolphins in the 2021 NFL Draft. He is unlikely to be a target in the first two rounds of the 2021 NFL Draft, but once the third round hits, I would be surprised if Miami did not have Turner squarely on their radar.