Vikings Have 1 Player in All-Breakout Team
When he joined the Vikings in 2024, Dallas Turner was expected to take the league by storm. The Alabama product has taken some time to find his footing at the next level, but he’s now primed for a real breakout season two years and change after his draft-day call.
PFF’s Bradley Locker predicted the next great player at each position and he picked Turner in the edge-rusher category.
He first explained his list: “With NFL rosters beginning to crystallize after the draft, visions for both player roles and performance are coming into focus. That certainly applies to young names looking to establish themselves at the pro level. Every season, formerly unproven talents make a leap to stardom … Who might fit the bill to qualify for the 2026 team? Below are worthy options at every position.”
Among various 2025 draftees, Turner’s name can be found. That’s not unexpected by any means after showcasing his talent when given more reps last year. With Jonathan Greenard being traded to Philadelphia during the draft, Turner now has a clear path towards a full-time starting role.
Locker wrote, “Turner’s first two seasons with the Vikings haven’t seen him become an outward star. That could look different in 2026. The former 17th overall pick finished with 65.5 and 64.1 overall PFF grades in 2025 and 2024, respectively. But last year was a step in the right direction, as Turner accrued a 70.2 PFF pass-rush grade with 42 pressures and a 12.0% pass-rush win rate.”
In his debut season, Turner was stuck at the fourth spot on the depth chart behind new signees Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel. Defensive coordinator couldn’t take his eventual Pro Bowlers off the field and when he had to, backup Patrick Jones was the next man up in his 2024 breakout season.
Jones departed last year to sign with the Carolina Panthers, while Greenard and Van Ginkel both missed time with injuries, allowing Turner to gain some valuable experience.
It became obvious that he can’t just replace Van Ginkel in his versatile role, but can do a solid impersonation of Greenard as a primary pass-rusher. The good news is that he will be in exactly that role in 2026.
“With Jonathan Greenard now on the Eagles, Turner has a clear runway to both meaningful playing time and improved production for Minnesota,” Locker concluded.
The Vikings traded Greenard away and didn’t acquire any notable replacement, making it clear that Turner is planned to be a starter in his third campaign. He was quite expensive to get during the 2024 draft and it’s time to reap the benefits.
Greenard, of all people, endorsed Turner this month: “The next person up is Dallas Turner. When he’s on, and he’s dialed in on the game plan, I mean, the kid is a bottle of explosion. I mean, the guy literally is, like I mentioned before, the 4.4 guy and he’s only just breaking the surface of how he’s going to be in this league.”
In his second season as a pro, Turner appeared in all 17 games, making 10 starts. He logged 8 sacks, 66 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, and perhaps the best aspect of his numbers, an exceptional 4 forced fumbles.
Turner was flying off the edge in Greenard’s position while the veteran was dealing with a shoulder injury. The physical tools have always been there, but it was fun to watch them come to life on the stat sheet. He also provided solid contributions in the running game, something not all young edge defenders can do.
Out of all the Vikings, Turner might be the most obvious breakout candidate the franchise has had in years. He’s still only 23, but 2026 could be his year.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.