Top Pass Rusher in 2024 NFL Draft Has Visit Set with the Vikings
The 2024 NFL Draft is just about five weeks away, and pro days and top-30 visits are in full force across the league as teams try to get final opportunities to evaluate prospects.
The Minnesota Vikings currently hold nine selections in this spring’s draft, and while many are projecting the team to take a quarterback, Minnesota is making sure to conduct due diligence in regard to other top prospects at different positions.
For example, one of their latest visits is set to involve Alabama pass rusher Dallas Turner.
Vikings Set to Meet with Top Pass Rushing Prospect
Alabama is conducting their pro day on Wednesday, March 20th, and from the event, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported the visit between Turner and the Vikings, tweeting, “Alabama edge Dallas Turner — who could be the first defensive player off the board — told me he has upcoming pre-draft visits with, among others, the #Bears (Nos. 1 and 9 overall picks), #Falcons (8) and #Vikings (11 and 23).”
Turner was incredibly hyped-up recruit coming out of high school, receiving a five-star rating from 247 Sports. Overall, he was the 12th-ranked recruit in the Class of 2021, and the No. 1 player at the EDGE position.
Naturally, after receiving offers from many notable programs, this led Turner to commit to the University of Alabama where he went on to live up to the majority of this hype. He was a consensus All-American in 2023 and the SEC Defensive Player of the Year, and now, he is hoping to bring that same production to the NFL level.
Over his three seasons at Alabama, Turner piled up 120 tackles, 32.5 tackles for loss, and 22.5 sacks. His 10 sacks during the 2023 season led the entire SEC.
Turner is capable of winning as a pass rusher from all over the field. He can beat offensive tackles off the edge, or he can slither his way through the middle of an offensive line when lining up as a true linebacker in the box.
The Vikings have spent some decent money on new pass rushers throughout this offseason, inking both Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel to contracts that will keep each of them in Minnesota through the 2025 season.
However, major questions exist in terms of Minnesota’s depth at the EDGE/OLB position. Without Danielle Hunter or D.J. Wonnum around anymore, the Vikings’ only other players on their depth chart at that spot are Patrick Jones and Andre Carter.
Turner likely is to be selected early in the first round because of his elite skillset, so the Vikings likely won’t actually land him this spring unless they don’t target a Day 1 quarterback. Still, it is always a good idea to do extra work on prospects with the unpredictability of the draft.
Editor’s Note: Statistics for this article were found via Sports Reference CFB.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.
