Minnesota Vikings have multiple players primed to break out and make their first Pro Bowl in 2026
The Minnesota Vikings have a lot of intriguing talents on the roster, and they have multiple players primed for the next step.
The Minnesota Vikings enter training camp with hopes of competing for the Vince Lombardi Trophy, and several players are positioned to take massive leaps forward. Between the quarterback competition featuring Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy, position battles across the roster, and a revamped offensive scheme with new assistant coach Frank Smith, there’s no shortage of storylines. With all of that said, one angle worth exploring is which Vikings could earn their first Pro Bowl nod. The honor may not carry the same weight it did decades ago, but Pro Bowl selections still matter for legacy, contracts, and Hall of Fame consideration.
I identified three players who fit the bill.
EDGE Dallas Turner
With Jonathan Greenard now in Philadelphia, Turner steps into a starting role at just 23 years old. He’s young, he’s underexposed, and opposing offensive lines don’t yet have a full book on him.
Turner played 702 snaps last season and still managed to lead the team with eight sacks and finish second with 42 pressures. Critics will point to cleanup sacks or unblocked rushes, but every pass rusher benefits from those situations. What separates Turner is how much he’s already improved his baseline level of play across the board since his rookie season, particularly in reshaping his body into a more NFL-ready frame.
With Andrew Van Ginkel on the opposite side, Turner won’t need to drop into coverage more than 40 to 80 times across a season where he’s likely to play 750 to 900 snaps. Brian Flores knows how to maximize his skill set. A full-time role with another offseason of development could push Turner toward 13 or even 15 sacks. That’s less than one per game, and he’s already shown the ability to produce in bunches.
RB Jordan Mason
The addition of assistant head coach Frank Smith changes everything for the Vikings’ ground game, and running back Jordan Mason is primed to reap the rewards. Mason’s thick, 5-foot-11, 223-pound frame is built for outside and wide zone concepts. Go back and watch the Vikings’ Week 2 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers in 2024 for proof. Mason carved them up for 20 carries, 100 yards, and a touchdown, hitting the ball at the apex of zone plays and cutting backside quickly against washed-out defenders.
Mason won’t rip off 70-yard touchdown runs like a Jonathan Taylor-type back. He lacks that extra gear. But he will consistently punish teams on 5 to 25-yard carries with his burst, vision, and ability to find slivers of daylight. He finished last season as one of the best runners in the NFL with 3.5 yards after contact per carry. If the offensive line and scheme improve to the point where Mason doesn’t get touched until five yards downfield, those carries start turning into nine-yard gains.
Even on a modest workload of 200 carries, Mason could eclipse 1,000 yards and approach double-digit touchdowns. In an NFC loaded with Bijan Robinson, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Saquon Barkley, earning a Pro Bowl selection won’t be easy, but a strong season combined with any missed time from those names could open the door.
WR Jordan Addison
Addison has been one of the most underrated playmakers in the NFL over his first three seasons, scoring 19 touchdowns across his first two years alone. Addison missed three games last season due to a suspension stemming from his DUI arrest in the summer of 2024. His production dipped, but so did everyone’s on an offense hampered by poor quarterback play.
Addison is a vertical threat with route-running savvy that outpaces his 4.49-second 40-yard dash time. His play speed is far crisper and cleaner than his testing numbers suggest, and he uses body positioning to create separation despite not being a true burner. With more stable quarterback play and an improved offensive line, Addison’s catch total, yardage, and touchdowns should all climb.
If Kyler Murray wins the starting job, Addison could see a significant increase in targets. A repeat of his early-career production with even marginal improvement in year four could put him squarely in the Pro Bowl conversation, and maybe even reignite the “3-deep” discussion that has become something of a rallying cry among Vikings fans.
