When the Minnesota Vikings entered the 2024 NFL Draft, their two first-round picks were largely seen as ammunition to grab a top-three quarterback. They opted against doing that and instead grabbed Dallas Turner with their second pick in the round. Now, they may be glad to have done so.
Good Thing the Vikings Have Dallas Turner, Huh?
Of course, Dallas Turner was always going to represent a high-value pick. Ultimately, he was considered among the best defensive players in the draft, and looking to replace Danielle Hunter’s production on the edge, having a guy who can bring down the quarterback with his success is a must.
This offseason, the Minnesota Vikings landed both Johnathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel. The former swapped places with Hunter and has been considered a breakout candidate. Coming over to Brian Flores’ blitz-heavy scheme should help him, and Greenard could undoubtedly be expected to put up a career year. Van Ginkel was a familiar name for Flores as they worked together in Miami, but it sounds like he won’t be ready to go for the season.
Van Ginkel has been injured all offseason and has yet to show a level of health needed to be on the field. New reports suggest that he is a candidate to start the year on the PUP list, and that immediately elevates the level of importance Turner brings to the table. While the former Alabama edge may have won the job anyway, he will now be called upon to ensure he can carry the load.
How rookies factor in at the next level is never a straightforward reality. Turner will be faced with an amount of speed he has not previously seen, and the size of the opposition will be something even the SEC can’t prepare him for. That being said, he left one of the most storied collegiate programs in the country and did so after finding a significant amount of success there.
The hope would be that Turner can quickly acclimate to the NFL through training camp and the preseason. His presence being felt by the opposition would immensely help Greenard on the opposite side of the line, and the pairing could usher in a new era of sack masters for the Minnesota Vikings.
With a cornerback group with plenty of questions to answer, the pass rush getting home will be essential for Flores’ defense. A rookie being asked to step up so early may not have been part of the plan, but it can be part of the solution.
Ted Schwerzler is a blogger from the Twin Cities that is focused on all things Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings. He’s active on Twitter and writes weekly for Twins Daily. As a former college athlete and avid sports fan, covering our pro teams with a passion has always seemed like such a natural outlet.
