Entering his third season in the NFL, Dallas Turner
is ready to take the next step in his development, including being a starter.
Minnesota Vikings
edge rusher Dallas Turner
was named the most promising building block on the roster by Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox
. Even after a rookie season that had many questioning whether or not he was worth the selection at 17th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.
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After a breakout season last year, Turner has instilled confidence in both the franchise and the fanbase that he can be that guy, and it was emphasized when they traded Jonathan Greenard
.
"Unfortunately, quarterback J.J. McCarthy
didn't make the necessary Year-2 strides to establish himself as a promising building block, which is why the Minnesota
Vikings brought in Kyler Murray
this offseason. However, fellow 2024 first-round pick Dallas Turner did.
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The Alabama product flashed potential as a rookie, finishing his inaugural campaign with 20 tackles and three sacks. However, he was even better last season, tallying 66 tackles, eight sacks, 11 tackles for loss, and 24
quarterback pressures.
Entering Year 3, Turner has the chance to become the face of Minnesota's pass rush. He already led the team in sacks in 2025, but with Jonathan Greenard
, Javon Hargrave
, and Jonathan Allen
gone, Turner may quickly become the focal point of Brian Flores' defensive front seven." – Kristopher Knox
Dallas Turner is ready to take the next step
When you watch Turner's film from 2025, he was a very solid player on the edge. After Greenard's injury, Turner had to step into a bigger role and thrived in doing so. His eight sacks led the team, and his 42 pressures were second. What was really impressive about his breakout season is the growth in the baseline of play.
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Strength was a big issue for Turner
Having that strength profile improve year over year, as it did, was excellent to see for the Vikings. Now, he can spend the offseason working on other elements of his game, including working on his pass rush repertoire.
This article was originally published on A to Z Sports. Read the full story here: Dallas Turner makes list that every young NFL player would love to be on, and the Vikings want to take advantage of it
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