As he reflected on his impressive closing stretch to this season, Vikings edge rusher Dallas Turner laughed when a reporter suggested to him that defensive coordinator Brian Flores doesn’t make it easy on young players.
“He sure doesn’t,” Turner said. “It’s all part of character development.”
After being selected by the Vikings in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, Turner played 28% of the defensive snaps last season, forced to learn the ropes of the NFL as a rookie while buried on the depth chart behind edge rusher Jonathan Greenard and fellow edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel.
It was a lesson in patience that forced Turner to trust the processes put in place by Flores.
“Just understanding his philosophy and stuff like that,” Turner said. “Just being able to accept the coaching.”
His willingness to lean in helped ensure that Turner was ready to play 66% of the defensive snaps this season, and emerge as a key piece for the Vikings while taking the next step in his career.
All the while, Turner leaned on Greenard and Van Ginkel, whose separate injuries presented Turner with even more chances to show he belonged.
“Those guys are my big brothers,” Turner said. “I can come to them about anything, whether it’s on the field or off the field. I’m very blessed and fortunate to have those dudes in my corner, and be in their corner as well. The relationship I have with both of those dudes is extraordinary and beyond football at this point.”
As he started to garner more playing time, Turner turned heads with his innate ability to rush the passer. By season’s end, he led the team in sacks (8) while looking every bit like the top prospect the Vikings expected him to be. Not that Turner is satisfied with his rise.
“I feel like there’s a lot more stuff out there to accomplish,” Turner said. “I’m just scratching the surface.”
There’s a precedent that suggests Turner might be onto something.
It comes in the form of Denver Broncos edge rusher Nik Bonitto, who, like Turner, graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. They both share the same trainer, and Turner has long tried to mold himself in Bonitto’s image.
That’s a good idea considering Bonitto’s path to being considered among the best players at his position. He learned the ropes in Year 1, showed steady improvement in Year 2, and burst to the top of the charts in Year 3.
It appears Turner is on track to follow in Bonitto’s footsteps.
“I feel like everything fell into place perfectly,” Turner said. “I’m very blessed and thankful to have the opportunities that I’ve had on the field.”
The next step is maintaining a level of consistency.
“It’s about always staying level headed,” Turner said. “Just staying grounded and never getting too high.”
On that note, Turner was asked about a message from safety Josh Metellus earlier this season, when he stressed the importance of putting in the hard work in the present, then being able to enjoy the harvest in the future.
It’s something that has stuck with Turner amid his recent success.
“You can never enjoy it too much,” he said. “There’s always a better harvest to come.”
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