End of season surge sends Minnesota Vikings firm message that rising defender is an emerging superstar

Dallas Turner is the next Minnesota Vikings star defender, and his end of the season surge proves it.

Tyler Forness — NFL & College Football News Writer
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Jan 4, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings linebacker Dallas Turner (15) pressures Green Bay Packers quarterback Clayton Tune (6) during the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Matt Blewett-Imagn Images

When the Minnesota Vikings selected Dallas Turner at 17th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, it was a surprising pick, especially with the trade up from 23rd overall.

Having played his college ball with the Alabama Crimson Tide, Turner showed he could be a star pass rusher. His plus-athleticism, paired with his bull rush ability, was really appealing to the Vikings. After only playing in 310 snaps as a rookie, there were serious questions about his development, especially considering the draft capital used to acquire him.

Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers showcased what Turner has done the last half of the season, and what he will be moving forward.

Dallas Turner is an emerging star for the Vikings

The last half of the season is where Turner really turned on the jets. With Jonathan Greenard dealing with injuries, Turner played significantly more snaps, and the Vikings benefited. He played 702 snaps this season and finished first in sacks (8.0) and second in pressures (42). He put up those numbers with just 288 pass rush reps on the season, which is pretty impressive.

One thing Turner did really well this season was get the ball out of the quarterback’s hands. In his eight sacks, Turner forced four strip sacks, which tied for the league lead and the most since Jared Allen in 2011. Turner was also one of three players in the NFL with multiple games having 2.0 sacks and a strip sack.

The really impressive part of Turner’s game overall has been his improved base of play. Last season, Turner struggled with his strength profile, which was to be expected coming into the NFL at 247 lbs. He bulked up and showed significant improvement holding up at the point of attack, shedding blocks in the run game, along with some variance with his pass rush plan.

Going into year three next year, Turner is going to be primed for a major breakout after emerging in the second half of the season. How will he do that? The same thing he did last year: focus on his body.

“The same thing as I did last year: preparing for the season. A lot of weightlifting, a lot of eating clean, just trying to make sure that my body’s still in playable shape. Also, just resting and enjoying the off-season as well,” said Turner after Sunday’s game.

His growth isn’t just the product of his development; it’s also due to who he’s surrounded with. Being that they are asked to do similar things, Turner’s learned a lot from Andrew Van Ginkel.

“I learned a lot of football [from Van Ginkel]. I feel like I learned the most just by watching him day in and day out, just being around and seeing how he handles his business, and the attention to detail he really is on the football player,” said Turner. “You have guys like that on the defensive side of the ball, you can look at them as like a coach in a way, because you know all the knowledge, the high football IQ he has, and honestly, it’s a blessing to be a sponge on this defense.”

Turner took a massive step forward this season, and next year could elevate him to another level.

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