Young Viking Gets Loud Endorsement from Brian Flores
The Minnesota Vikings selected outside linebacker Dallas Turner from Round 1 of the 2024 NFL draft after an expensive trade up the board.
Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores showered high praise on one of the team’s rising young stars, signaling major confidence for the impending season.
Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah basically leveraged all non-1st-Round draft capital from 2025 to land Turner, a big draft fish at the time, and when Turner didn’t take on a starter’s workload as a rookie, some onlookers scratched their heads.
But with a pivotal Year No. 2 on the way for Turner, his boss, defensive coordinator Brian Flores, is all in on his development.
All Eyes on Dallas Turner in Year No. 2
The Vikings’ main defensive boss isn’t shy about pounding the table for Turner.
Brian Flores’ Big Forecast for Dallas Turner
Veteran (and Pro Bowl) EDGE rushers Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel boxed Turner out from a starter’s job as a rookie in 2024, but with his sophomore season afoot, Flores foresees Turner’s next development step in 2025.
Flores recently said via ESPN, “We talked a lot about him last year and his growth throughout the season, and he’s just kind of built on that. Nobody talks about that rookie season when you’re in college and you’re training, and it’s the combine, and then the draft, and then it’s new everything. New house, new ride to work, new everything.”
“So he’s much more comfortable in this environment. He knows what the expectations are. He’s got a high standard for himself, and that’s a great place to start, but he also knows he’s got to work a significant amount to get to that standard, as all of our guys do.”
Even with Turner’s miniature workload in 2024, Minnesota’s defense ranked second in the NFL per EPA/Play.
Flores continued, “He’s come in and really gotten into a routine that I think is going to allow him to put his best foot forward, put himself in position to have the type of season he wants to have and we want him to have.”
“Dallas is coming into his own in terms of how he is going to contribute, and it could be in a variety of ways: as a rusher, as a dropper, on the ball, off the ball, in different packages. We’re excited about his versatility, but also his growth.”
A Truncated Rookie Season
Greenard and Van Ginkel naturally hogged the first-team OLB reps last season, and after the duo, veterans Patrick Jones II and Jihad Ward mostly handled the rest of the EDGE load.
Turner still managed to log 12 tackles, 3 sacks, and an interception, always banking notable plays when given the opportunity. It’s just that the Vikings spent the farm to acquire Turner, and before too long, he must trend as a Pro Bowler, like his counterparts Greenard and Van Ginkel. Otherwise, the draft-night trade will not have been worth it in hindsight.
Clear Path to Stardom in 2025
Thankfully, at least for Turner’s sake, Jones II and Ward no longer work for the Vikings.
Jones II signed a deal with the Carolina Panthers, and Ward remains a free agent. Minnesota used Jones II as the primary “third pass rusher” in 2024, and Flores moved Ward all around the defensive line. With those two “out of the way,” all signs point to Turner for an enhanced snap count.
Why? Well, other than Greenard and Van Ginkel, there’s no one else, except for promising undrafted free agents like Bo Richter, Gabriel Murphy, and Tyler Batty.
Mandatory Production for Dallas Turner
Turner must shine before too long — it’s mandatory for Adofo-Mensah’s sake.
Adofo-Mensah bet it all on the Turner trade, sending the bulk of his 2025 draft class — aside from the 1st-Rounder that netted Ohio State guard Donovan Jackson three months ago — on Turner and his youthful toolkit.
The trade was expensive on draft night and remains expensive with 15 months of retrospect. Put plainly, Minnesota has a vested interest in Turner’s increased workload and subsequent breakout. He has a high standard to meet.
More ESPN Context
ESPN’s Kevin Seifert added more context on Turner last week. He noted, “The Vikings spent part of the spring experimenting with how they will replace safety Camryn Bynum, who signed with the Indianapolis Colts in free agency. On some occasions, veteran Josh Metellus was working in Bynum’s spot, vacating Metellus’ previous role as a hybrid defensive back/linebacker.”
“At other times, Theo Jackson — a backup from 2022 to 2024 who signed a contract extension this spring — was working there. Depending on how the Vikings play it, Turner could fill his own version of Metellus’ hybrid role.”
Turner’s versatility, even while playing just 28% of defensive snaps as a rookie, was quite obvious. More examples are apparently on the way.
Seifert added, “And even if he remains a traditional outside linebacker, the free agent departure of Pat Jones II — who played 459 snaps in 15 games last season — would seem to open up more pass rushing possibilities.”
“It’s also not unreasonable to think the Vikings will give Greenard and Van Ginkel some additional rest after both set career highs in playing time last season.”
Turner is still just 22 — like his draft mate, quarterback J.J. McCarthy.
You must be logged in to post a comment.