After the Minnesota Vikings selected Alabama outside linebacker Dallas Turner at No. 17 in the 2024 NFL Draft, he played 300 of the team’s 1,135 defensive snaps as a rookie.
The Vikings had Pro Bowlers manning the outside-linebacker spots in their starting defensive lineup – Jonathan Greenard, who registered 12 sacks and forced four fumbles, and Andrew Van Ginkle, who recorded 11.5 sacks and returned two interceptions for touchdowns — in 2024.
Minnesota defensive coordinator Brian Flores said Turner had a season of learning as a rookie.
“I think any time you’re behind – or you’re with, I shouldn’t say behind because in that room I really see it as three starters,” Flores said on Tuesday. “So you’re with two guys who receive all the accolades and obviously are good players, have been in the league, have made a lot of plays, who are significant contributors to the team, the best thing you can do – and I think Dallas did this – is just to soak up that information.
“And the two guys he had, they’re very different — the skills that JG has, the energy that JG brings, the skills that Ginkle has, the energy that he brings, the different ways they contribute to the team. Dallas is coming into his own as far as how he’s 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 – so we’re excited about his versatility, but also his growth. …
“But I think more than any of that, it’s Dallas and his willingness and his want-to to put his best foot forward and put himself in the best position.”
On Wednesday, Turner said he could tell the difference between last offseason and this offseason. In between, Turner had 20 tackles, three sacks, five quarterback hits and one interception in 16 games.
“I feel like I’m way ahead physically, mentally and spiritually,” Turner said, “just getting that one year under my belt with the type of vets that we had in the room being led by Andrew Van Ginkle and Johnny Greenard and Pat Jones last year. And just have the type of staff we have on the defensive side of the ball, I feel like is playing a big role in my development as an NFL player going into Year 2.”
The Vikings have three days of practice remaining in their offseason next week before breaking for the summer. Minnesota starts practice at training camp on July 26.
Flores said being more comfortable in the NFL the second time around had helped Turner continue to grow this offseason.
“We talked a lot about him last year and his growth throughout the season last year,” Flores said, “and he’s just kind of built on that. Nobody talks about that rookie season where it’s you’re in college and then you’re training and then it’s the combine and then it’s the draft and then you jump right in and it’s new everything – new house, new ride to work, new everything. So he’s much more comfortable, I would say, 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. I think all of our guys do.
“And he’s come in and really gotten into a routine that’s going to allow him to put his best foot forward and put himself in position to have the type of season that he wants to have and the type of season we want him to have. All positive with him. Definitely some growth, or a lot of growth from his standpoint and excited to see where this goes.”
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.