The Minnesota Vikings have not had a strong recent track record with their draft picks.
Last season was a nice change of pace to see first-round pick left guard Donovan Jackson show some promise right away and prove he's got a future in the NFL. As for the other two first rounds pick from the 2024 draft? That remains to be seen, but perhaps one of them could be in for a massive 2026 campaign.
PFF's Dalton Wasserman recently gave his early 2026 breakout candidates for each team. One of those 2024 first-round picks, edge rusher Dallas Turner, caught Wasserman's attention for finally coming through for Minnesota.
"Turner may have finally found his footing during the second half of this season. From Weeks 10 through 18, the former first-round pick racked up 24 pressures and seven sacks while ranking 16th among qualified edge rushers in PFF pass-rush grade (76.5). Turner also seemed to find further comfort in run defense, which could make him a more viable three-down player in 2026."
Dallas Turner is ready for Minnesota Vikings breakout performance in 2026
It could be argued that 2025 was a breakout season for Turner, as he showed drastic improvement from his rookie year in 2024. He racked up 66 tackles, 42 pressures, 27 hurries, 15 quarterback hits, 11 tackles for loss, eight sacks, four forced fumbles, and three pass deflections in 17 games.
Everything that the Vikings have been looking for from Turner finally seemed to come together in the second half of the season. He stepped up in a major way when top edge rushers Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel were dealing with injuries.
That speed off the edge and the athleticism he showed on tape were what he originally showed coming out of college. There were many already calling him a bust after one season, but now he is making Minnesota's future roster decisions easier.
One of the offseason discussions among the fan base is whether Greenard could be traded then or at the trade deadline during the regular season. That topic is becoming easier for Vikings fans to stomach because Turner is slowly becoming a starter in this defense.
Turner is turning into an absolute beast on the field and could be in line to potentially be a Pro Bowl at the rate that he is going. His 2026 performance on the field will be closely watched by all Minnesota fans.