2024 NFL Draft: Minnesota Vikings select Dallas Turner

The top edge rusher on the board finds his way to Minnesota

After making yet another dramatic move up the board in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings have acquired a dynamic defensive player and one of the top edge rushers in this year’s class.

With the 17th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings have selected Edge defender Dallas Turner from the University of Alabama.

Going into this year’s Draft, Turner’s name was atop just about everybody’s list of the best edge defenders in this year’s class. However, with the first 14 players coming off the board being offensive players, a lot of quality defensive players got pushed down the board and Turner was one of them. He’ll have a big time opportunity to get some play right away in Brian Flores’ defense with the departure of Danielle Hunter. He has the athletic ability to make an impact for this team right away.

Dane Brugler of The Athletic has Turner as the #1 edge defender in this year’s draft class and the # overall on his Big Board. Here’s what Brugler has to say about Turner:

A two-year starter at Alabama, Turner played the SAM linebacker position in former coach Nick Saban’s hybrid 3-4 scheme, lining up in both a two- and three-point stance. He had a mentor-apprentice relationship with 2023 first-round pick Will Anderson Jr. (they’re also best friends) and filled his shoes admirably in 2023, earning consensus All-American honors with an SEC-best 11 sacks. As a pass rusher, Turner is quick off the ball to get underneath blocks or bury his hands into the chest of blockers to convert his speed to power. Despite lacking ideal bulk, he plays physically at the point of attack and is a strong run defender (aside from some missed tackles that need to be cleaned up) with an elite competitive motor. Overall, Turner is a long, explosive edge rusher with the body twitch, hand usage and play strength to leverage blocks and be disruptive in multiple ways. He has the freaky tools to be a potential impact player in the NFL who should continue to improve as his body and rush attack mature.

This caps a pretty solid first night of the 2024 NFL Draft for the Minnesota Vikings, getting their quarterback of the future and a big-time defensive prospect on the edge for the defense. What else is going to happen? We can’t wait to find out!

Welcome to Minnesota, Dallas Turner!