Minnesota Vikings edge rusher Dallas Turner is finally entering the 2026 season as a full-time starter, giving the former first-round pick an opportunity to take another significant step in his development.
So far, Turner has shown little evidence that the added responsibility is weighing on him. If anything, the progress he has shown is exactly what Vikings fans hoped to see from him in 2025, offering more reason to believe in his future in Minneapolis.
But ESPN NFL writer Bill Barnwell still views the third-year defender as one of the NFL players facing the most pressure in 2026.
"Turner had eight sacks in a rotational role filling in on the edge for the Vikings, but he wasn't anywhere near as productive on a snap-by-snap basis as that figure suggests upon closer review."
There's no reason for Dallas Turner to feel pressure with Minnesota Vikings in 2026
Last season, Turner racked up 66 tackles, 15 quarterback hits, 11 tackles for loss, eight sacks, four forced fumbles, and three pass deflections in 17 games with 10 starts. He also notched 42 pressures and 27 hurries, according to Pro Football Focus.
PFF gave Turner an overall grade of 65.5, ranking him 63rd out of 115 edge rushers in 2026. He also received pass-rush and run-defense grades of 70.2 and 66.9, respectively.
Sure, there's an argument that Turner is under some pressure. The Vikings traded Jonathan Greenard to the Philadelphia Eagles, which moved Turner up the depth chart. Being a former first-round pick in the same draft class as quarterback J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota needs one of its top draft picks to pan out.
This appears to be more about confidence, something the Vikings and defensive coordinator Brian Flores have already shown Turner has. He's drastically improved his game, from three sacks in 16 games in 2024 to eight last year. More quickness and better technique improved his performance.
Greenard's trade shows that the Vikings believe in Turner. Maybe he isn't getting the kind of sack numbers some people want, but he is creating pressure on the quarterback and doing his job well.
With Turner and Andrew Van Ginkel coming off the edges for the Vikings, this defensive front should still be in good shape to have a strong 2026 season. Year 3 might be the one where Turner becomes the Pro Bowl pass rusher Minnesota was hoping he would be.
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