Minnesota Vikings linebacker Jonathan Greenard speaks with reporters after an NFL Worldwide Collection recreation at Croke Park in Dublin, Eire. Following the Sep. 28, 2025, matchup in opposition to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Greenard mirrored on Minnesota’s abroad look whereas discussing the group’s efficiency throughout one of many league’s globally spotlighted regular-season occasions overseas. Obligatory Credit score: Kirby Lee-Imagn Photographs.
Outdoors linebacker Jonathan Greenard now not works for the Minnesota Vikings, traded to the Philadelphia Eagles final month, together with a Seventh-Spherical draft choose, for a Third-Rounder in 2026 (security Jakobe Thomas), and a 2027 Third-Rounder. On his approach out, Greenard was positive to spill the beans: his Vikings teammate, Dallas Turner, will prepare dinner as his substitute.
Minnesota wants Turner’s Yr 3 leap to turn into actual after buying and selling Greenard.
Greenard spoke with Chris Lengthy this week and didn’t maintain again when talking glowingly of Turner.
Greenard’s Feedback Add Gasoline to Turner’s Breakout Case
The 2026 marketing campaign might certainly be Turner’s almighty breakout.
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Dallas Turner watches drills throughout minicamp on the Minnesota Vikings Coaching Facility. Throughout the June 10, 2025, offseason session in Minneapolis, Turner continued getting ready for an expanded defensive function after flashing pass-rushing upside late in his rookie marketing campaign beneath defensive coordinator Brian Flores. Obligatory Credit score: Matt Krohn-Imagn Photographs.
Greenard on Turner
Greenard is aware of slightly one thing about EDGE rushers, so when he pounded the desk for Turner, people listened.
He advised Lengthy, “The next person up now is Dallas. I’m gonna say it now, Dallas Turner. When he’s on and he’s dialed in on the game plan, the kid is a bottle of explosion. The guy is literally a 4.4 guy (in the 40), and he’s only just breaking the surface of how he’s gonna be in this league.”
“That’s who I’m taking care of next. I’m watching him real close, I’m still gonna be talking to him the same way, like ‘Listen, XYZ has to happen’ or this is not gonna happen. Just the little small things you gotta have when you’re dealing with a young guy like that, because they don’t know.”
The Greenard commerce to Philadelphia fully and completely paved the best way for Turner to emerge because the Vikings’ keynote go rusher in 2026.
Greenard added, “As much as they are mature when you talk to them, they talk a good game, they still don’t know what they don’t know yet. He’s gonna take this big, big step. You saw him kind of do it a little bit towards the (end of) last season.”
“And now this point, shoot, I said ‘It’s time now. This is your time, this is your team, you need to go ahead and make that happen.’ So I’ll be looking real close for him and I know it’s gonna get done because that boy a dog, too.”
Turner’s Profession to Date
As a rookie in 2024, Turner noticed restricted enjoying time, collaborating in solely 28% of Minnesota’s defensive snaps. Regardless of the small workload, he supplied glimpses of his 1st-Spherical potential, recording 3 sacks, 5 quarterback hits, 3 tackles for loss, and an interception.
His second yr, nevertheless, marked a dramatic change. Turner’s enjoying time surged to 66% of defensive snaps, benefiting notably from Greenard’s damage absence, and his manufacturing exploded. He grew to become one in every of Minnesota’s most disruptive gamers, particularly late within the season, recording 8 sacks, 15 quarterback hits, 11 tackles for loss, and 4 pressured fumbles.
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Dallas Turner works in protection area in opposition to the Tennessee Titans throughout first-half motion at Nissan Stadium. On Nov. 17, 2024, Turner continued showcasing his velocity and pursuit means whereas serving to Minnesota counter Tennessee’s bodily offensive method throughout a tightly contested highway matchup in Nashville. Obligatory Credit score: Steve Roberts-Imagn Photographs.
By the ultimate months of the season (November by January), Turner appeared fully comfy inside Brian Flores’ protection, persistently delivering huge performs that silenced early criticism.
He concluded his second season with a 65.5 Professional Soccer Focus grade, together with a 70.2 as a go rusher.
All the time Stashed at OLB3
Had Greenard stayed put — a contract extension as many Vikings devoted wished and anticipated — Turner can be in the identical spot, ready till Greenard or Andrew Van Ginkel acquired injured to showcase his expertise.
On the entire, it was a pleasant drawback to have — too many productive outdoors linebackers. Now, the Vikings arguably want an OLB3 with Greenard subtracted from the depth chart, maybe a participant like Jadeveon Clowney or Leonard Floyd.
The Costly Commerce to Get Him
The Vikings have ample time with Turner, who has three years remaining on his rookie deal. At simply 23, he’s presently the fourth-youngest non-rookie on Minnesota’s roster.
Whereas this affords them some flexibility, it doesn’t diminish the numerous funding made to accumulate him. To safe Turner within the 2024 NFL Draft, the Vikings executed a considerable commerce, surrendering two 2nd-Rounders, a Third-Rounder, a 4th-Rounder, a Fifth-Rounder, and a Sixth-Rounder.
Minnesota Vikings linebackers Andrew Van Ginkel, Jonathan Greenard, and Dallas Turner communicate throughout minicamp on the Minnesota Vikings Coaching Facility. Throughout the June 10, 2025, offseason exercise in Minneapolis, Minnesota’s edge-rushing trio continued constructing chemistry inside Brian Flores’ protection forward of one other season carrying main expectations for the Vikings go rush. Obligatory Credit score: Matt Krohn-Imagn Photographs.
Such an funding naturally units a excessive bar. Whereas Turner isn’t anticipated to be an instantaneous celebrity, the expectations are undeniably actual and fully justifiable. So, when followers anticipate vital contributions from him, their expectation is well-founded.
Fortunately for his sake, it’s go-time for Turner. The truth is, this will have been the Vikings’ plan alongside when drafting Turner — hold Greenard till he demanded more cash and roll with Turner when he left.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … Extra about Dustin Baker
