Mel Kiper Jr. gushes over Dallas Turner, projects him No. 8 to Atlanta Falcons

Mel Kiper Jr. released his 2024 NFL Mock Draft on Wednesday, projecting former Alabama EDGE Dallas Turner to be the No. 8 overall pick to the Atlanta Falcons.

The Falcons have chosen to focus on its offensive unit over the past few seasons with its first pick — but to Kiper Jr., the fit seems too perfect for the Falcons to pass up on the former Crimson Tide star.

“For the Atlanta Falcons, you think Kyle Pitts and you think about Drake London. You think about Bijan Robinson. But I would go defense,” Kiper said on ESPN2 on Wednesday. “You need a pass rusher desperately. Dallas Turner emerged this year we said what’s gonna happen? Well, Will Anderson Jr. moves on [from Alabama], but will Turner be the guy who really takes his game to another level? We saw it early on at Alabama. He fell back a little and 2022 and now he put it all together this past year with double digit sacks.

“I love the way he can beat you with quickness. He can beat you with speed and he could also be relentless. I love the way he chases down the quarterback. He’s got that speed to get a quarterback and he will get you the ability to get covered sacks as well as getting that natural explosion that you looked for in a complete pass rusher off the edge.”

As a junior in 2023 he earned first-team All-American honors from CBS Sports, The Athletic and USA Today. He piled up an impressive 50 tackles, 13.5 tackles for a loss, 9.0 sacks, two forced fumbles, a pass breakup and 13 quarterback hurries this fall entering the Rose Bowl. In that loss, Turner had three tackles and one sack.

Turner has rare speed and explosiveness off the edge, and he does it while listed at 6 foot 4, 252 pounds. His production wasn’t just in 2023, however. He did it for three years for the Crimson Tide under Nick Saban. During his collegiate career, Turner has recorded 117 tackles, 32.5 tackles for a loss, 22.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles and one pass defended.

“He became the best defensive player in this draft,” Kiper Jr. continued. “If he was there at pick No. 8, it certainly make sense for the Atlanta Falcons.”

Whether Kiper Jr.’s projecting pans out, Turner won’t have to wait very long for his name to by called by the commissioner on draft night. The 2024 NFL Draft will be held in Detroit from April 25-27.