Vikings May Have Dug Up a Long-Term Solution at Pass Rusher
After losing to the Seahawks by a score of 26-0, the Vikings are a 4-8 football team. Most concerning are the ongoing issues at quarterback. Underneath the oblivion taking place at QB is that the Vikings may have dug up a long-term solution at edge rusher.
In Dallas Turner, the Vikings have a 22-year-old edge rusher who is emerging into a weekly impact player.
In the past, I’ve been among those to put ink down criticizing Mr. Turner. He has turned the corner in recent weeks, consistently showing up with impressive plays as he continues refining his game. Continuing on his upward trajectory will mean that Minnesota’s defense has a critical piece to rally around in the coming weeks as 2026 nears.
Vikings May Have Dug Up New Impact EDGE
Standing at 6’3″ and weighing 247 pounds, Dallas Turner was built to be an NFL edge rusher.
Even more promising is his elite speed. The defender ran a 4.46 forty, a wildly fast time for the position. Consider that Danielle Hunter ran a 4.57 forty. Note, too, that Justin Jefferson ran a 4.43 forty. So, when a pass rusher coming in close to 250 pounds is clearly faster than Hunter and almost as fast at Jefferson, the Vikings have found someone special.
Turner, to his great credit, has clearly been working hard. He’s turning his enormous potential into production.
In Seattle, Turner did tremendously. The sophomore edge rusher finished off the game with 5 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 3 quarterback hits, 2 forced fumbles, and 1 pass defended. His length, explosiveness, and physicality were felt all game.
Overall, the season stats are sitting in a reasonably beefy spot. Turner boasts 46 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, 12 quarterback hits, 2 forced fumbles, and 3 passes defended. He has offered Brian Flores these numbers across a dozen games, starting in seven.
Going forward, Dallas Turner’s task is going to involve continuing to prove to be a menace off the edge. Even better will be if he ends up being as versatile as originally hoped, using his length and speed to fly off the edge while also being someone capable of getting plugged into different spots within the front seven.
The 2026 Vikings are again going to be leaning on Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel, and Dallas Turner. That’s a formidable trio so long as health cooperates and all three reach their potential. Even better will be if Turner continues to grow, proving to be worth the massive investment in the 2024 NFL Draft.
After the game, Dallas Turner chatted with the media. There was an emphasis on preparing for the Seattle cadence, allowing the edge rusher to explode off the line of scrimmage. So, too, was there an acknowledgement on “playing fast,” a quick quip that was evident on the field on Sunday.
Being able to look so fast isn’t just about his physical abilities (as impressive as they are). The sophomore must be putting in work during the week, allowing him to quickly react without needing to think.
Next up for the Alabama alumnus is a Week 14 home game against the Commanders. Seeing Turner continue to wreak havoc will go a long way in snapping the four-game losing streak.
