The Minnesota Vikings are expecting Dallas Turner to break out in 2026. On draft night, Minnesota sent Jonathan Greenard to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for two third-round picks, signaling their belief in Turner, the 17th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Those who attended training camp saw Turner showcase his blend of speed and power. He stood out in both joint practices against the Baltimore Ravens, further suggesting his growing comfort in Brian Flores' defense.
ESPN's Ben Solak labeled Turner as the Vikings' "X-factor" in 2026, as he highlighted a strong close to the 2025 season as a reason to believe that the third-year EDGE rusher has already begun to turn the corner in his career.
"The lightbulb went on for Turner last season,
and it was expressed in his quick first step," Solak wrote. "Turner had one quick pressure in the first 10 weeks of the 2025 season -- a quick pressure is a pressure in under 2.5 seconds, as measured by Next Gen Stats. In the final eight weeks of the season, he had 10 such pressures. When Turner can fire off the ball and beat a tackle to the corner, he forces the quarterback to step up in the pocket, a decision that compromises pocket integrity. It allows a blitzing linebacker to detonate the back right into the quarterback's lap, or lets Andrew Van Ginkel convert to an interior rush from the other side and affect the quarterback's throwing arm."
We still need to see Turner put it all together over a full season, though. He was still a rotational piece most of last year, getting starts when Van Ginkel and Greenard were injured.
There is evidence to suggest he is about to hit his stride in 2026. If Turner does what we expect him to, the Vikings could once again have one of the best defenses in the NFL.
This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Analyst dubs Dallas Turner as player to watch for Vikings in 2026
