PT #92

Payton Turner

Defensive End · Houston

A former first-round edge rusher out of Houston now chasing a fresh start with Detroit's rebuilt defensive front.

Payton Turner went 28th overall to the New Orleans Saints in 2021, the fourth edge off the board out of the University of Houston. Injuries kept the 6-foot-6 defensive end from settling into a steady role early in his career. He signed with the Detroit Lions in March 2026 looking to revive his trajectory.

★ First-round pick, 2021 NFL Draft (No. 28, New Orleans)

★ Second-team All-AAC at Houston (2020)

Path to the league

Turner spent four seasons at Houston, finishing as a second-team All-American Athletic Conference pick after recording 10.5 tackles for loss and five sacks across five games as a senior. The Saints used a first-round pick on him in 2021. His size and length made him a projection bet on a defensive line that needed long-term help.

Career highlights

Turner's most productive stretch came in 2024 with New Orleans, when he logged 21 tackles, two sacks and four passes defended and earned a 70.8 pass-rushing grade from Pro Football Focus. He signed a one-year deal with Dallas in March 2025 but landed on injured reserve in August with a rib injury before the season began.

2025 season

Turner's 2025 was cut short before it started, as the rib injury sent him to injured reserve in late August and kept him off the field for the Cowboys. He hit free agency again the following spring. Detroit signed him on March 20, 2026, to a one-year, $1.145 million deal as a low-cost swing for its retooling defensive line.