Could the Vikings’ Stance on J.J. McCarthy Also Apply to Dallas Turner?
During the 2024 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings made a couple major splashes.
The Vikings traded up not once, but twice during the first round, making J.J. McCarthy the highest selected quarterback in franchise history (No. 10 overall) while also trading up from No. 23 to No. 17 to make Dallas Turner the first edge rusher that the Vikings have selected in the first round since 2005.
These historic selections inevitably will connect McCarthy and Turner in Vikings history, but could the development of each player be connected as well?
Will the Vikings Use the Same Principles for McCarthy and Turner?
Let’s lay out the thought process here. The Vikings have preached patience in regard to McCarthy and his development. The 21-year-old QB spent the opening portions of OTAs operating with the backups while Sam Darnold and Nick Mullens worked with the starters.
It makes sense. McCarthy is coming from a collegiate situation where he performed well but had a ton of talent around him. More often than not, throwing a rookie QB into the starting lineup immediately has led to some poor results during a rookie season, and while some have been able to overcome those struggles in the following years, others have seen their careers entirely derailed (Sam Darnold, Zach Wilson).
Turner is an equally young player at this stage of his career, turning 21 years old on February 2nd. So, could the Vikings decide to utilize a similar strategy with the young edge rusher?
Of course, it is almost certain that Turner will get on the field during his rookie year simply because he plays on defense where players will rotate in and out. However, despite losing names like Marcus Davenport, Danielle Hunter, and D.J. Wonnum in free agency, Minnesota has done a great job of adding more veteran talent to this group.
Jonathan Greenard put together a fantastic season with the Houston Texans in 2023, and he almost certainly will be the premier pass rusher in Minnesota’s defense this season. Meanwhile, Andrew Van Ginkel is another Swiss Army knife who can be utilized in a number of different ways by Brian Flores this season. Those two players seem destined to become the starters this year.
Meanwhile, Jihad Ward appeared in all 17 games for the New York Giants last season, making nine starts. With that playing time, Ward put together a career-high five sacks in New York and certainly could be a rotational player in Minnesota’s defense this year.
Of course, the hope is that Turner can step into Minnesota’s defense and immediately thrive, but that isn’t always the case for young defenders. Particularly because of all these veteran additions this offseason, the Vikings don’t necessarily need to rush Turner onto the field, either. Keep in mind, Danielle Hunter made just one start during his rookie season back in 2015.
The Vikings can afford to play the slow game with Turner in 2024 if they feel that is the best route for him to continue his development on defense.
Editor’s Note: Statistics for this article were found via Pro Football Reference.
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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.