Vikings' Dallas Turner dubbed 'must-watch' during Vikings training camp

[ASFN Admin]

EDGE defender Dallas Turner didn't have the type of rookie season most expected when the Minnesota Vikings traded up to select him with the 17th pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. He registered three snaps on 310 defensive snaps, playing a rotational role most of the season.

That wasn't all Turner's fault. Starters Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel earned Pro Bowl nods after combining for 23.5 sacks. Turner will be counted on to produce in 2025, but will that come at the expense of pulling Greenard and Van Ginkel off the field?

How the Vikings line Turner up is one of the top priorities for Alec Lewis to watch for this training camp, he wrote in The Athletic.

Turner needs more playing time for multiple reasons. It’s not just that the Vikings traded a boatload of draft capital to acquire him in 2024; it’s also that Van Ginkel and Jonathan Greenard aren’t likely to be able to sustain the workload they contributed last year. Turner’s explosiveness should provide Flores a new card to pull to confound quarterbacks.

Physically, Turner can do just about everything. Flores’ willingness to move him around the field in training camp and beyond will be telling.

Greenard and Van Ginkel terrorized quarterbacks in 2024, but the Vikings had to manufacture ways to get the rest of the defense involved. Turner could provide a needed spark off the EDGE if he substitutes in for one of them. However, being aligned over guards or centers and blitzing, a la Micah Parsons, could add a new element to the defense without sacrificing Greenard and Van Ginkel.

The Vikings will give Turner every opportunity to play in 2025 by lining him up at various positions. Let's see if he's up to the task.

This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Dallas Turner dubbed 'must-watch' during Vikings training camp

Continue reading...