The New England Patriots agreed to terms with nine undrafted free agents after the 2024 NFL Draft. The standout among the group is former LSU center Charles Turner III. Turner finds himself in an excellent position to compete for a spot on the Patriots’ 53-man roster.
The 6-foot-3, 303-pound Turner possesses average size for the position, but he did post some terrific testing numbers at the NFL Combine and has some elite measurables in his repertoire. Turner had a 31-inch vertical and a 9-foot-1 broad jump in Indianapolis. The former Tigers standout has a 98th percentile 83.25-inch wingspan and 95th percentile 35-inch arms, per MockDraftable. A poor 40-yard dash at LSU’s Pro Day downgraded Turner’s Relative Athletic Score to 5.13 out of 10.
Turner was terrific throughout the 2023 campaign. A steady performer, he was credited with allowing just one sack and was whistled for only three penalties. The Canton, Ohio native was a key cog for an explosive offense that had three first-round draft picks, including wide receivers Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. Turner helped protect quarterback Jayden Daniels, who enjoyed a Heisman-winning campaign en route to being drafted No. 2 overall by the Washington Commanders.
After the season concluded, Turner accepted his invite to compete in this year's Senior Bowl. Turner took full advantage of his opportunity, routinely showcasing lower-waist bend, balance, flexibility, and a strong anchor throughout competitive practice reps. Surprisingly, Turner went undrafted following his performance at the Senior Bowl. He seemingly exited Mobile as a rising prospect.
Experience and versatility will help Turner impress the Patriots throughout training camp. Turner appeared in 44 career games with 27 starts across five campaigns at LSU. He spent the majority of his time at center but was flexible enough to earn a handful of starts at left guard and right tackle. Turner's ability to fill in as necessary will endear itself to new head coach Jerod Mayo and his coaching staff.
On tape, Turner is a good athlete who utilizes his athleticism to make positive plays in space. LSU ran multiple schemes throughout the 2023 season. Turner showcased the ability to execute both zone and power concepts as a run blocker, using first-step quickness to win the position battle and out-leverage defenders.
The Patriots do not have great depth at the interior offensive line positions. Struggling mid-round draft picks made by the previous regime such as Atonio Mafi and Jake Andrews will be put on notice this summer. Furthermore, starting left guard Cole Strange is coming off a knee injury suffered in December that could threaten his early-season participation. I love Turner's chances of defeating the other young players on the roster in head-to-head position battles.
The Patriots possess a rich history when it comes to undrafted free agents. Malcolm Butler, Jakobi Meyers, and J.C. Jackson are among the recent success stories. Turner is talented enough to carve out a similar legacy for himself if he maximizes his opportunity over these next few months.
