For Dallas Turner, the bust prognostications were unavoidable.
The Minnesota Vikings appeared to be targeting a franchise pass rusher when they traded up to land Turner on Day 1 of the 2024 NFL Draft. But now 20 games in, fans have been puzzled by Turner’s usage (just 433 total defensive snaps, or 25.5 per game, per Pro Football Focus) and minimal impact (21 total pressures, four sacks, and just 16 solo tackles).
The Vikings, of course, know what they have in their still 22-year-old ascending star. With Turner, the box score doesn’t tell the real story — especially in coach Brian Flores’ assignment-based scheme.
Sunday’s blowout win over the Cincinnati Bengals was a prime example. This was the Turner breakout game Vikings fans needed to see — and it came on a day Turner officially finished with just one assisted tackle on 34 snaps.
Excitement for Minnesota Vikings defender Dallas Turner is through the roof after most impactful game as a pro
The Vikings’ front seven tormented backup quarterback Jake Browning and the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 3, and Turner was among the catalysts.
Per PFF, Turner led all Vikings defenders with a career-high five quarterback pressures. His speed and athleticism were on full display against a banged-up Bengals offensive line; on one play late in the first quarter, Turner sprinted across the formation, chased down a scrambling Browning, and nearly dropped the QB for a safety.
Turner was credited with a QB hit on that play. He was also excellent against the run, continuing what has been his largest improvement from his rookie year.
Vikings reporter Alec Lewis noted Turner's usage on early downs, especially in his weekly postgame nuggets for The Athletic.
“I thought Dallas Turner, going back through the film, played his best game in a Vikings uniform. And it wasn’t always the flash, sack, long arm, bend and dip around the tackle… but it was constant pressure. He was physical in the run game. … A great sign to see him, hopefully, start to come on.”
Flores’ confidence in Turner is clearly growing. He started Sunday’s game on the left edge and was so good that the Vikings only needed Andrew Van Ginkel, who’s been working his way back from a concussion, for eight snaps in the game; we'll have to see if Turner earned himself more playing time as Van Ginkel returns to his usual workload in the coming weeks.
The box score numbers haven’t been there, but with nine pressures, a sack, and three run stuffs through three games, the Turner breakout game is officially priming.