We’re 17 days away from the Cincinnati Bengals’ preseason finale against the Philadelphia Eagles. Each and every day leading up to the conclusion of the preseason, we’ll profile a player the Bengals’ 90-man roster. Check out previous player profiles here.

The next name on the series goes by his nickname, and should be a lot richer in a month’s time.

DJ Turner II Player Profile

Age: 26
Year: 4th
Position: Cornerback
College: Michigan
Jersey Number: 0

JuanDrago “DJ” Turner II was selected No. 60 overall in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Bengals. Prior to the NFL, Turner spent four years at Michigan (2019-22) and started 28 of the 36 games he played in for the Wolverines. His first three years in Ann Arbor coincided with Dax Hill, the club’s 2022 first-round pick, and the two started eight games together in 2021.

Cincinnati rotated Turner onto the field during the first month of his rookie season in 2023 as Chidobe Awuzie was still coming back from a torn ACL. He eventually took over as a starter for 12 of the final 13 contests. He started the 2024 season on the bench as well, but was called to action in Week 4 when Cam Taylor-Britt was benched mid-game and started six games to follow. A shoulder injury in Week 11 ended his season.

Despite a strong training camp in 2025, Turner once again begin the year as a backup. That changed almost immediately in week one when he had a standout performance in the season opener, which included a game-winning interception. That day sparked a breakout season for Turner as he led the NFL and pass his defense for the vast majority of the year. The Bengals’ defense as a hole was terrible, but Turner was a true bright spot as a full-time, starting cornerback for the first time in his career.

Contract details

Turner is entering the last year of his four-year, $6,160,040 rookie contract. The deal has essentially ballooned to a total value of $8,244,034 as his 2026 base salary increased to $3,674,000 from $1,590,006 when he qualified for a Level-One Proven Performance Escalator (PPE) as a non-first-rounder who’s played a lot of football after three years. His base salary is also the amount of cash he will earn this season. When adding his signing bonus proration of $370,007, his salary cap hit for the year is $4,044,007.

Roster outlook

It took three years, but Turner is now looked as a leader in Cincinnati’s secondary. He’s the No. 1 CB on the depth chart, as he was for most of last year, and has been going up against Ja’Marr Chase throughout training camp.

If there’s one thing the Bengals need to do before the season begins, it’s extending Turner’s contract and giving him the raise he so rightfully deserve deserves. He’s about to play for just a few million dollars that aren’t even guaranteed. Dax Hill is also set to play in a contract year, and Cincinnati should want no part of both its starting cornerbacks hitting free agency next offseason. Hill is at least making nearly $13 million, all guaranteed, this year. The Bengals need to appropriately compensate Turner.

With a major payday likely incoming, and the rest of the defense looking much improved, another good year from Turner should establish himself as one of the better defensive backs in the NFL.

Roster odds: 100%