The Dallas Cowboys entered the 2025 season hoping to revive the career of former first-round pick Payton Turner. Instead, the move turned into a lost year. Turner never saw the field, spending the entire season on injured reserve due to a rib injury that worsened during preseason action.
Now, Turner is once again on the move. The former New Orleans Saints pass rusher has signed with the Detroit Lions, a team on the rise in the NFC and one looking to add depth and upside along its defensive front.
For Detroit, the signing represents a low-risk gamble on a player who still carries the potential that made him a first-round selection in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Turner‘s time in Dallas never truly began. He was placed on injured reserve in late August after suffering broken ribs, an issue that had been bothering him since the team’s first preseason game. The timing could not have been worse.
Just two days later, the Cowboys made a franchise-altering decision, trading All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers. With Parsons gone, Turner was expected to step into a much larger role. Instead, his absence left a noticeable gap in the defensive rotation.
Career still searching for consistency
Turner‘s professional journey has been marked by promise, but also persistent setbacks. Drafted 21st overall by New Orleans, he entered the league with significant expectations after showcasing his ability at the University of Houston.
During the pandemic-shortened 2020 college season, Turner recorded five sacks in just five games, flashing the kind of athleticism and size that made him an intriguing NFL prospect.
However, his transition to the pro level has been anything but smooth. Over his first three seasons with the Saints, Turner appeared in only 13 games. A series of injuries, including shoulder issues and turf toe, limited his availability and prevented him from establishing a consistent role.
While none of those injuries were considered catastrophic, the repeated interruptions stalled his development at a critical stage of his career.
The Cowboys believed they could provide the right environment for a turnaround. Turner signed a one-year deal in March 2025 and was projected to serve as a rotational edge rusher in a deep defensive unit that also featured veterans like Dante Fowler.
Fowler, coming off a productive season, was expected to anchor part of the pass rush while Turner developed into a complementary piece.
That plan never materialized due to Turner‘s health setback. Now, with the Lions, he has another opportunity to reset. Detroit’s aggressive defensive system and upward trajectory could offer the ideal situation for Turner to finally carve out a meaningful role.
The question remains whether he can stay healthy long enough to capitalize on it, but for a player once viewed as a rising star, this latest chapter may be his most important yet.
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