Early analysis of the 2025 NFL draft class indicates this year’s group of defensive linemen will be a good one.
That’s a plus for the San Francisco 49ers given their need for cheap, quality talent in that position group. One potential first-round pick from the defensive line class is dealing with an injury that stemmed from an injury he dealt with during the season.
According to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, Texas A&M defensive lineman Shemar Turner exited the Senior Bowl because of complications from a stress fracture he suffered before the 2024. Rapoport reported Turner had a rod inserted in his leg that never fully healed.
Texas A&M DL Shemar Turner, a likely Top 50 pick, had to pull out of the Senior Bowl after learning that a stress fracture from camp, that needed a rod inserted into it, never fully healed, sources say.
Turner, who played on it all season, was advised to have no impact on his… pic.twitter.com/hfcpIBqoZf
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 28, 2025
Turner isn’t liable to be a first-round choice for San Francisco without a major trade back, but he could definitely be an option if he’s available when their second-round pick comes up at No. 43 overall.
The 49ers need to add a handful of defensive linemen in the offseason, and Turner looks the part of a player who could step into an NFL defensive tackle rotation on Day 1.
He’s listed at 6-4, 300 pounds and posted 79 pressures with 10 sacks across 35 games in his final three college seasons. Turner had an excellent junior season in 2023, but his production dipped in 2024 – which may due to his pre-season injury.
If the 49ers don’t snag a defensive tackle at No. 11 overall and if Turner’s injury heals up before his Pro Day, there’s a real chance the former Texas A&M star winds up being a good fit for San Francisco in this year’s draft.
