Bengals' Secondary Gets More Athletic After Adding DJ Turner in Second Round of 2023 NFL Draft

Turner ran the fastest 40-yard dash (4.26) at the 2023 NFL Combine.

Author:
James Rapien
Publish date:
Apr 28, 2023 10:07 PM EDT

In this story:

CINCINNATI — The Bengals already had one of the most athletic secondaries in the NFL. That didn't stop them from adding Michigan cornerback DJ Turner on Friday night with the 60th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Turner's 4.26 40-yard dash was the fastest at the NFL Combine this year. His 2.32-second 20-yard split was in the 100th percentile.

Turner joins former college teammate Dax Hill (4.38), Tycen Anderson (4.36), Nick Scott (4.45), Cam Taylor-Britt (4.38) and Chidobe Auwzie (4.43) in the Bengals' secondary. Every guy ran a 4.45 second 40-yard dash or faster.

Their overall speed in the secondary is as good as it's ever been in team history.

"You'll see guys that have great time speed and it doesn't match their play speed," defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo said. "This guy can run and you see it on tape. If he gets out of position he can get back in it because of his speed. DBs in our league today, they're gonna get beat, they're gonna get out of position and this guy has the recovery speed to get back in and maybe make a play on the ball."

Watch Turner's highlights here. For more on the Bengals' draft, go here.