Two and a half years ago, former Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah spent a fortune to obtain outside linebacker Dallas Turner during the 2024 NFL Draft, and now it’s time for that gamble to pay off.
Turner checks in as the fourth-most important Viking of 2026, according to VikesNow. Here’s why.
The Turner Gamble Has Reached Its Defining Year
Turner’s Role in 2026
After two years – – some would call them long – – Turner has ascended to the role of starting outside linebacker. Before this offseason, he habitually lived behind Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel on the depth chart. The Vikings traded Greenard to the Eagles in April, so it is, alas, Turner’s turn.
Turner is no longer just the promising young guy. Turner played 402 more snaps in 2025 than he did as a rookie, then responded with eight sacks and 15 quarterback hits.
Now comes the expensive part of the original bet. Minnesota traded up for Turner in 2024 because the front office believed he could become a premier EDGE rusher. Year No. 3 is where that projection must become reality. Brian Flores can move Turner around, but the assignment is simple: wreck quarterbacks.
If he does that while Van Ginkel handles his own havoc, Minnesota’s pass rush should remain plenty nasty without Greenard around anymore.
What Success Looks Like
The most logical avenue for success – – believe it or not – – is a breakout. That’ll sound like an overly optimistic forecast, but it really is not. Turner is precisely the kind of guy who should break out, and he probably will, based on last year’s evidence.
Why? Well, Turner produced eight sacks in 2025 while forcing four fumbles, which was a substantial jump from his rookie year. Another step forward puts double-digit sacks squarely on the table. ESPN has already floated the possibility that Turner could finish among the league’s sack leaders.
That is not some goofy expectation. Turner has the athletic profile, and his workload should increase with Greenard gone. Minnesota does not need him chasing Defensive Player of the Year votes by Halloween. Ten to 12 sacks would do nicely if the pressures keep arriving and offenses have to account for him every Sunday.
If Turner becomes the OLB threat opponents game-plan around, the Vikings will happily call Year No. 3 a breakthrough season.
What Could Make This Ranking Look Too Low – – or Too High
No. 4 could look too low if Turner’s third-year leap becomes the monster season Minnesota envisioned on draft night. He already jumped from three sacks as a rookie to eight in 2025. Another similar climb would push him into the league’s upper tier and make this ranking look cautious.
The other possibility is less pleasant. Greenard is gone, meaning Turner no longer has the luxury of developing behind a proven Pro Bowler. More snaps mean more responsibility – – like Spider-Man – – and offenses will know where No. 15 is lined up. If his pressure rate stalls or he struggles against stronger tackles, fourth could feel aggressive.
But if Turner reaches double-digit sacks and becomes a weekly headache for offenses, Minnesota’s gigantic 2024 draft gamble will finally look pretty dapper.
Next in the Countdown
There are just three Vikings left on the 2026 countdown. Here’s a review:
40 | Myles Price (WR)
39 | Tai Felton (WR)
38 | Demond Claiborne (RB)
37 | Caleb Tiernan (OT)
36 | Bo Richter (OLB)
35 | Theo Jackson (S)
34 | Ivan Pace Jr. (LB)
33 | Levi Drake Rodriguez (DT)
32 | Ryan Van Demark (OT)
31 | Charles Demmings (CB)
30 | Jakobe Thomas (S)
29 | Josh Oliver (TE)
28 | Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins (DL)
27 | Jake Golday (LB)
26 | Domonique Orange (DT)
25 | James Pierre (CB)
24 | Eric Wilson (LB)
23 | Jay Ward (S)
22 | Jauan Jennings (WR)
21 | Aaron Jones (RB)
20 | J.J. McCarthy (QB)
19 | Isaiah Rodgers (CB)
18 | Josh Metellus (S)
17 | Blake Brandel (C)
16 | Will Fries (RG)
15 | Will Reichard (K)
14 | Caleb Banks (DT)
13 | Blake Cashman (LB)
12 | T.J. Hockenson (TE)
11 | Donovan Jackson (LG)
10 | Jordan Addison (WR)
9 | Jordan Mason (RB)
8 | Byron Murphy Jr. (CB)
7 | Jalen Redmond (DT)
6 | Andrew Van Ginkel (OLB)
5 | Brian O’Neill (RT)
4 | Dallas Turner (OLB)
Next? The team’s best player: Justin Jefferson. Two other players are arguably more important than Jefferson, but the 27-year-old is the roster’s most talented.
───────────── ─────────────
VikesNow Verdict: The snaps are finally Turner’s, and Minnesota needs the third-year leap it envisioned in 2024. Double-digit sacks would make No. 4 feel perfectly reasonable.
───────────── ─────────────
About The Author
