With Jonathan Greenard gone, the path is wide open for Dallas Turner to become the Vikings’ top sack producer this season, and that’s exactly where the fan vote landed. In this week’s SB Nation Reacts poll, 70% of respondents picked Turner to lead Minnesota in quarterback sacks, making him the clear favorite to take the next step in his second season.
Andrew Van Ginkel was the only other serious challenger in the poll, drawing 20% of the vote. That makes sense, too, since he finished just one sack behind Turner last year despite missing multiple games because of a neck issue.
The rest of the field barely registered. Jalen Redmond got 3%, Eric Wilson received 2%, and “other” matched the combined total of Redmond and Wilson at 5%.
Turner looks like the obvious answer for more than one reason. The trade of Jonathan Greenard opens up full-time snaps for him at outside linebacker, and he already showed last season that he was starting to get a better feel for Brian Flores’ defense. As a rookie, he was stuck behind Greenard and Van Ginkel, which made it hard to justify taking either veteran off the field just to get him more run.
Now the opportunity is there. Turner has a couple of seasons under his belt, and the Vikings clearly invested heavily when they moved up for him in the 2024 NFL Draft. This season feels like the moment for him to prove why they made that move and to help shape a front seven built around players like him, Redmond, and hopefully Caleb Banks.
In Other News...
Vikings QB Battle Could Force A Stunning Roster Decision
The Vikings are prepared to let their quarterback competition stretch well into training camp, with the battle between Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy shaping up as one of the more closely watched decisions on the roster. Minnesota already has Carson Wentz lined up as the likely backup, which means the eventual call at the top of the depth chart could ripple beyond just who takes the first snap in September.
Tyler Forness pointed out that the team may not rush to settle the job, with the starter potentially not being named until the joint practices against the Ravens ahead of the Aug. 22 preseason game. That leaves a lot of room for the situation to get uncomfortable, because the loser of the competition may not just be moving down a spot, but could be staring at a far less secure role than either quarterback expected when camp opened. [Read more 🡒]
ESPN Just Singled Out The Vikings Biggest Edge In 2026
The Vikings have spent plenty of time building around their passing game, and ESPNs latest roster breakdown suggests that remains the clearest place where they can separate from the pack. The focus landed on Minnesotas wide receiver and pass-catching group as the teams biggest edge heading into 2026, a nod to just how much talent the Vikings can throw at defenses when the offense is clicking.
Justin Jefferson still sits at the center of it all, with Jordan Addison, Jauan Jennings and T.J. Hockenson giving Minnesota a mix of speed, versatility and matchup problems that few teams can match. The bigger question is how that group will be deployed with Kyler Murray in the mix, since a new quarterback can change the rhythm and shape of the passing game even when the personnel is already in place. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Fans Already Have One Big Reason To Worry About Caleb Banks
Caleb Banks arrived in Minnesota with the kind of draft pedigree that usually comes with immediate expectations, and the Vikings were willing to spend a first-round pick on a defensive tackle they believe can become a real difference-maker. His college tape offered enough promise to justify that bet, especially after a strong 2024 season, but the bigger question has always been whether his talent can translate if he stays on the field.
For now, the concern is less about upside than availability. Banks has yet to take a snap for the Vikings because of a foot issue that has already interrupted his path before, and his limited 2025 season only sharpened the worry around his durability. For a team that passed on other needs to get him, the early months of his NFL career are already carrying more pressure than anyone in Minnesota probably wanted. [Read more 🡒]