The reconstruction of the Los Angeles Rams’ defensive front began in 2023, which was Aaron Donald’s last year. The front office and coaches had an idea that he might be retiring soon, so they used a third-round pick on Kobie Turner two years ago, giving him a season to learn from the future Hall of Famer Donald.

It couldn’t have worked out better because Turner has quickly become a force on the interior of Los Angeles’ line, racking up 119 tackles and 17 sacks in his first two seasons alone.

Executives, coaches and scouts around the league are taking notice of Turner’s rapid rise, ranking him as one of the best defensive tackles in the NFL. He didn’t crack the top 10 on ESPN’s list, which was voted on by personnel evaluators within the league, but he was one of the five honorable mentions.

Here’s what one high-ranking NFC personnel exec told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler about Turner.

“He has an ability to get off the ball and establish leverage. He has a natural feel to be in the right place at the right time and plays with urgency. He can also close the deal when there’s a chance for a TFL, pressure or sack.”

In 2023, Turner ranked eighth among all defensive tackles with a PFF grade of 83.8. Last season, he was 15th at his position with a grade of 74.9. He has 102 total pressures and 76 stops in the last two years, according to PFF, which are outstanding numbers for a defensive tackle.

He may not be Aaron Donald, but Turner has become an outstanding player in his own right and is already one of the best defensive tackles in football. He should only get better, too, with all the talent around him in Los Angeles.

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This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: LA Rams’ Kobie Turner ranked among best DTs by NFL coaches, execs