We bet you can’t guess which Cincinnati Bengals player got the nod as a first-time Pro Bowl candidate. Go ahead and try.
Nah, just kidding. We know that you know. Now we are left wondering when the rest of the NFL will acknowledge his greatness.
After several national media members have spoken on DJ Turner II this offseason, we expect the rest of the NFL world to recognize what he brings to the table in short order. And that recognition could lead to more accolades by the end of the season.
DJ Turner tabbed as potential first-time Pro Bowler
Kevin Patra of NFL.com recently released his "potential first-time Pro Bowler from each team list," with DJ Turner making the cut for the Bengals.
Of Turner, Patra notes: “DJ Turner II’s play surged in 2025. Unfortunately, the rest of a moribund Bengals defense left him an afterthought. The sticky cover man netted a -6.2% CPOE, fifth-best among all CBs (min. 500 coverage snaps) and a -0.1 EPA per target, per Next Gen Stats.”
Somehow, Turner posted top-of-the-market stats while playing behind one of the worst front-seven units in the NFL last season. That bodes well for our expectations for the former Wolverine to put together another exceptional season in 2026.
DJ Turner will get even better with help up front
Turner must be just as surprised and happy to see the influx of talent around him as Jon Snow was when his reinforcements showed up at the Battle of the Bastards.
The Bengals’ overhauled defense, especially the defensive line, will make life easier for everyone involved with the organization.
We expect the defense to get more pressure on opposing quarterbacks from every direction. However, with the acquisitions of defensive tackles Dexter Lawrence and Jonathan Allen, pressure from the middle of the pocket will force QBs into rushed and misplaced throws.
Beyond the defensive line itself, the best part of a woeful defense a year ago, the secondary, will benefit most from that added pressure.
National media finally catching on
Finally, national coverage will help get Turner into the Pro Bowl for the first time and possible All-Pro consideration.
And while we continue to wax poetically around here about how good Turner is and is deserving of a new contract, our reach is not as far as the national media’s when it comes to season awards and Pro Bowl votes.
Articles like this one from Patra on NFL.com will certainly put Turner’s name into the zeitgeist. But he is not alone.
Ben Solak previously broke down why DJ Turner was one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL when the ESPN analyst released a video highlighting advanced stats and how the Bengals defender shadows the opposing team’s best receiver.
The best CB you've never heard of is DJ Turner II pic.twitter.com/OeC0bUMOkN
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) July 27, 2026
That kind of hype coming from national reporters will go a long way in raising Turner’s profile for casual fans who may not know just how good the Bengals CB is.
If Cincy pays, more recognition will come
Solak titled his video “The best CB you’ve never heard of.” Let’s put aside the argument that a cornerback out of Michigan who should have been a first-round pick in the 2023 Draft ran the fastest 40-yard time at his combine and threatened the fastest time ever, for now.
Solak’s point is that Turner is not a household name in the league but should be. And the most expedient way to make that happen, beyond excellent play on the field, would be for the front office to make him one of the highest-paid players at the position.
While fans across the NFL may not follow the Bengals as closely as we do, they do follow headlines about who got paid and how their favorite player’s compensation compares to each new contract.
It is the same for us, as we have been chronicling each new record-breaking deal at the CB position this offseason. There have been a few. Turner should be next.
Turner is an obvious candidate for a first-time Pro Bowler for the Bengals. Hopefully his 2026 accolades won’t stop there, with All-Pro honors also on the menu.
And perhaps Turner won’t be the only Bengals first-time Pro Bowler from the secondary, as we greedily want cornerback Dax Hill to be in the running as well.
Add us as a preferred source on Google