Most of the intrigue along the Minnesota Vikings‘ defensive line comes from free-agent acquisitions Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave. In the secondary, Brian Flores is expecting Isaiah Rodgers to form a formidable cornerback tandem with Byron Murphy, Jr., but are any of these players as interesting as what Dallas Turner can do in Year 2?
Alec Lewis of The Athletic believes Turner is the most interesting player on the Vikings’ defense this upcoming season. Believed to be one of the top pass-rushers in the 2024 NFL draft, Turner fell to pick 17, where the Vikings traded up to select him. Despite the draft fall, he was still only the third defender taken.
Turner played only 310 defensive snaps in 2024, but that was because he was stuck behind Pro Bowlers Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel. So what do the Vikings have in store for the former Alabama edge rusher whom they thought so highly of to trade up for one year ago? Lewis expects Turner to see the field, although those snaps may not all come from the traditional edge position.
Is there a more interesting player on this list? Where defensive coordinator Brian Flores deploys Turner is one of the early storylines of the Vikings’ season. Expect off-ball snaps, expect the unexpected.
Flores isn’t going to pull Greenard and Van Ginkel off the field just to give Turner opportunities. If he proves he is worthy of spelling them, then Flores won’t hesitate. But those two players are valuable members of the defense, meaning Turner may have to get on the field at other positions.
We may not know what that looks like until Week 1 when the Vikings face the Bears. And if there’s one thing Flores loves to do, it’s surprising a young quarterback with a defensive look he’s never seen before.
