Philadelphia Eagles draft buzz: An exclusive chat with Payton Turner

Current Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham has been a shining light in the City of Brotherly Love for years now. Considered a draft bust early on in his career, Graham kept his head down and kept pushing. Now, he’s known for arguably the greatest strip-sack in the history of the Super Bowl. Eagles fans can’t think about Tom Brady without thinking about B.G.’s Super Bowl heroics.

Fast forward three years and Graham is still terrorizing offenses across the National Football League. Despite an underrated 2020 season, one in which he finally earned his first Pro Bowl nod, it’s hard to notice his age and wonder how much he has left in the tank. Sooner or later, the Philadelphia Eagles front office will be tasked with finding the heir to Brandon Graham’s throne.

The Philadelphia Eagles have a potential star in Josh Sweat, but with Graham getting up there in age, the need to find another pass-rusher should be at the forefront of General Manager Howie Roseman‘s mind.

A sub-radar pass-rusher that could boost the Philadelphia Eagles defense.

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome Houston Cougars pass-rusher Payton Turner, the six-foot-six, 275-pound monster who’s blessed with a great bend and a motor that won’t quit. Turner has the perfect combination of size, raw quickness, and a freaky athletic ability that would help the Philadelphia Eagles defense immediately.

Turner looks like he was sculpted out of marble as he possesses a thick base and physique that football coaches salivate over. He has the ability to play anywhere across the line as he’s very versatile. A constant terror coming off the edge, he has a pure strength and violent style of play that allows him to kick inside and disrupt offenses that way.

Here are Turner’s thoughts about how he could help the Philadelphia Eagles.

We at ITI sat down with the Houston product and asked him how he could help an NFL team like the Philadelphia Eagles. Here’s what he had to say:

"I am going to be the same guy I am now for whatever team that drafts me. I am a hardworking player and a guy that really eats football. I mean all I think about is football, how to be better at everything I do, how to get stronger, studying film on offenses, and learning what they are thinking. I want to get to the next level and dominate, and the only way I am doing that is by putting in the work. So, at the next level, be it the Philadelphia Eagles or whoever, they are getting a dog, a guy who is going to be the best version of myself daily."

As the conversation continued, he told us what it’s like preparing for the 2021 NFL Draft. Here’s part of that portion of the conversation.

"You know, it’s business as usual here, man. I am just grinding right now and pushing myself to get better. It’s humbling knowing that these teams know who I am and that they are interested in me to play in the league. I always dreamed of this moment, so knowing that I am close is surreal. My focus is just the grind. I am enjoying every day that is put in front of me."

Payton Turner is a potential game-changing pass-rusher. He plays with violent hands and has a nasty style that teams and their fans look for in defenders.

He’s built to be an offensive nightmare and has grown into one of the country’s best edge defenders. The Philadelphia Eagles are in need of an upgrade, and landing a player like Turner would be a huge step, one that could lead to a dominant defense and, potentially, give Philly one of the best defensive end rotations in the entire NFL.