Two years ago, Minnesota Vikings fans wondered aloud whether Dallas Turner would be the next “bust” courtesy of former general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. Turner then saw the field in bits and pieces, and proved he could eventually be at least decent. Later, Turner’s prognosis went from contributor to newfound starter when Jonathan Greenard was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles.
And through two weeks of 2026, Turner is no longer “just a starter.” He’s a real contender for the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year award.
Turner’s Breakout Has Become Something Much Bigger
Through 2 Weeks, the Numbers Are Just Sensational
It would be sweet if Turner were producing half his current output. Fans would do cartwheels. Instead, the speedy OLB is flat-out terrorizing the NFC North.
Through two games, Turner has three sacks, 19 pressures, and 11 quarterback hits. The latter two figures lead the NFL, and he somehow followed nine pressures against Green Bay with 10 more at Soldier Field. He’s spent two Sundays making offensive tackles miserable.
The pace obviously won’t stay that absurd for 17 games. If it did, Turner would finish with about 162 pressures and 26 sacks, which belongs in video game territory.
But if Turner simply remains among the league leaders in disruption while the sacks keep arriving, Defensive Player of the Year becomes a perfectly reasonable conversation. Two weeks ago, folks wanted proof he could replace a veteran starter. Well, here it is.
And as of September 21, Turner ranks 14th in DPOY odds at +4000. Some sportsbooks even have +2500.
An Utter Breakout Party
Fans asked over the last eight months: Is this the year when Turner will break out? The answer is here, and the answer is yes. Absolutely, even.
This is what the Vikings envisioned when they traded up for Turner in 2024. The process simply required some patience. He entered the league at 21 years old and played barely 300 defensive snaps as a rookie because Minnesota had established veterans ahead of him. Last season, the workload jumped, and Turner responded with eight sacks. Now the big job is his.
The fascinating part is how quickly the breakout has gone from hypothetical to no-brainer. Turner no longer looks like somebody benefiting from Brian Flores drawing up a clever pressure. He is beating blockers himself. His speed is ruthless. The power is suddenly there. The motor never seems to stop. Those characteristics are what separate a useful starter from somebody who can tilt an entire damn game.
Turner is 23, which makes the whole thing even more ridiculous. He’s not in final form – – not by a long shot. The Vikings’ coaches are watching Turner at his very beginning.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell said of Turner on Sunday, “Coming into this year, you guys could tell I was really excited about the type of player we would have in Dallas and how that would fit with how we were gonna play defense.”
“His ascension, as expected as it is, you still love to see it happening right before your very eyes. Just an awesome moment.”
No Jonathan Greenard? Nobody Cares.
The Vikings traded Greenard to the Philadelphia Eagles in April for two 3rd-round picks. Onlookers scratched their heads because trading premier EDGE defenders is risky business. Now, the gamble looks righteous.
The logic was straightforward: save money and hand Turner the bigger job. Still, removing a proven pass rusher always carries risk.
Two games later, nobody in Minnesota is pining for the old arrangement because Turner has made the transition comically painless. He’s dominating while Andrew Van Ginkel is dangerous on the opposite side. Too, Greenard is a terrific football player. This isn’t an insult to him. The Vikings merely believed their former 1st-rounder was ready to replace that production at a lower price. That is occurring in living color.
Closing the Door on the Bears, Tyson Bagent
Chicago had one final chance Sunday. Caleb Williams exited on a cart with a hamstring strain, so Tyson Bagent took over and pushed the Bears to Minnesota’s 12-yard line with one second remaining. A touchdown and extra point would have stolen the game. Instead, Turner lined up against tight end Colston Loveland, beat his buttocks, and dumped Bagent for an 11-yard loss. Ballgame.
That was Turner’s second sack of the afternoon, and the timing could not have been more theatrical. O’Connell called him Minnesota’s “closer” afterward. Turner ended the game with a violent transaction you could see in WWE or AEW. Then he took off downfield with one finger in the air because, frankly, what else was he supposed to do?
Turner said of the game-ending sack, “I had to just soak it in. I just ran. I’m running, and I don’t even know what to do. I just thank God for the opportunity, letting me have the physical ability to execute at a high level.”
Now, It’s about Sustainability
Vikings loyalists don’t expect Turner to generate 19 pressures every two games forever. NFL offenses adjust, and before too long, somebody will spend an entire afternoon making sure No. 15 sees two blockers instead of one. The next phase is finding out whether Turner can remain destructive when opponents begin treating him like the main character.
That’s also the fun part. He is already producing at an elite level before age 24, and there is no physical reason to believe this is some brief hot streak. Turner was a deluxe Alabama prospect for a reason. The Vikings spent mega draft capital because they believed those traits would eventually translate into production. Guess what? They have.
The DPOY conversation is within reach due to Turner’s massive first two outings. It’s up to him to carry it forward. If he does that, the DPOY award talk will be loud in December.
Hell, if the league handed out a DPOY award for the first two games, Turner would win it – – hands down.
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VikesNow Verdict: Turner was supposed to prove he could replace Greenard. Two games later, that question already feels outdated. With three sacks and 19 pressures at age 23, Turner has played well enough to make DPOY talk legit, not theoretical.
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