Bengals Roster Breakdown: DJ Turner II is defending a starting spot he ran away with as a rookie

Throughout the summer leading up to the regular season, we will go through the entire 2024 Cincinnati Bengals roster. Every single day until the season opener against the New England Patriots, we will break down a player on the roster including his background, contract status, and path towards making the team.Today, we dive into the […]

John Sheeran — Cincinnati Bengals News Writer
Add as preferred source on Google
DJ Turner II
© Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK

Throughout the summer leading up to the regular season, we will go through the entire 2024 Cincinnati Bengals roster. Every single day until the season opener against the New England Patriots, we will break down a player on the roster including his background, contract status, and path towards making the team.

Today, we dive into the profile of cornerback JuanDrago "DJ" Turner II. Outside of his sick first name, Turner brings plenty of traits you'd like in a cover corner, but putting them all together is his current mission in a battle to stay a starter. 

DJ Turner II

  • Age: 23
  • Year: 2nd
  • Position: Cornerback
  • College: Michigan
  • Previous Teams: None
  • Jersey Number: 20

Turner was drafted by the Bengals with the 60th overall pick in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He spent four years at Michigan and was redshirted as a freshman in 2019 due to a glute injury he originally sustained in high school. Following two years as a reserve and appearing in just eight games, he emerged as a starting corner in 2021 alongside Dax Hill, who manned the "STAR" position in the slot. He led the team in interceptions (2) and was All-Big Ten honorable mention despite starting only eight of the 14 games he played. He started all 14 games as a senior in 2022, leading the team in passes defensed (11) on his way to Second Team All-Big Ten honors. 

The tape painted Turner as a sticky defender in man coverage with all the athleticism required to stay on the outside, and his NFL Scouting Combine performance verified that. He ran a 4.26 40-yard dash, the fifth-fastest time in the history of the combine, and he also jumped nearly 11 feet in the broad jump. 

Some pundits expected Turner's 40 to boost him in the draft, but the Bengals were able to take him right before the third round. He entered Cincinnati with hopes of being one of the top four cornerbacks on the depth chart. A strong training camp and preseason had him ready to contribute Week 1 with Chidobe Awuzie still working back from a torn ACL. Turner and Awuzie would rotate in and out of the first four games before Turner took over as the starter in Week 5. Only four cornerbacks had allowed a lower passer rating in coverage through the first six weeks of the season than Turner. It was after the team's Week 7 bye that his play started to decline a bit. From Week 8-18, He was responsible for the third-highest passer rating allowed in coverage at 132.9. His five pass breakups were countered by the four touchdowns he surrendered in assignment. The theme was common: while Turner was in position most of the time, he simply couldn't finish in coverage, often being mere inches away from getting his hands in the way. 

Struggles aren't uncommon for rookie cornerbacks, but with Turner hitting the wall in the latter part of the season, the Bengals knew he needed to be tested in his second year. Hill was switched to being a corner to compete with Turner for the starting gig opposite of Cam Taylor-Britt, a battle that is sure to take the remainder of the offseason. Turner has had another solid training camp and got the start in Saturday's preseason opener over Hill. Conventional wisdom states he's on track to beat out his former college running mate, but these next four weeks will have the final say.

Contract details

Turner is in the second year of his four-year, $6,160,040 rookie contract. He will earn a fully guaranteed base salary of $1,030,002 for the 2024 season.

When adding on his signing bonus of $1,480,028 that's prorated throughout the deal, Turner's cap hit for the season will be $1,400,009.

Roster chances

Cutting Turner isn't in the cards as the Bengals would be financially hurting themselves letting him go with his salary guaranteed for the year. He was drafted to eventually settle in as a starter, but if he can't beat out Hill, who's playing outside corner for the first time in his career, what does that say about Turner at his natural position? 

Pure talent could win out and the more well-rounded athlete in Hill may be too enticing to keep on the bench. This would allow Turner to back up all three spots inside and out, and with his smaller frame, the slot may be where he ends up in the long-term anyways. There's still time for him to be who he'll be for his career.

Chances of making the roster: 100%

Previous player breakdowns

Related Articles