The Cowboys are signing former Saints first-rounder Payton Turner to a one-year contract, per ESPN’s Todd Archer.
The deal is worth $3MM with $2MM guaranteed, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, reflecting Turner’s need to prove himself after battling injuries to start his career. He played in just 15 games across his first three seasons before staying healthy for 16 games in 2024. In Dallas, Turner will serve as a backup edge rusher behind Micah Parsons, Sam Williams, and Marshawn Kneeland.
Turner was a surprising first-round pick in 2021 after entering the draft with a Day 2 projection. The Saints used the 28th overall pick on him anyway, but Turner played in just five games as a rookie before landing on injured reserve with a shoulder injury. He was healthier in 2022, but his inconsistent production left him sidelined for several games as a healthy scratch. A case of turf toe that required surgery sidelined Turner for most of 2023, and the Saints declined to pick up his fifth-year option during the following offseason.
The former Houston Cougar managed to stay healthy in 2024, appearing in 16 games with a career-high 335 snaps on defense. He also saw increased time on special teams with 231 snaps. The increased opportunity did not yield commensurate improvements in Turner’s production. He finished the season with nine pressures, two sacks and three tackles for loss, similar statistics to his first two seasons that featured significantly less playing time.
At 6-foot-6 and 270 pounds, Turner has the requisite frame to be an impact edge rusher in the NFL, but he has struggled to reach his potential in the NFL. The Cowboys have a decent history of developing pass rushers, and opposing offensive lines will be more concerned with Parsons and Osa Odighizuwa, so Turner has a chance to improve in Dallas and earn a stronger contract next year.