Dallas Turner didn’t need much motivation, but Rob Brzezinski may have handed him some anyway.
Back on the second night of the NFL Draft, the Vikings were forced into a move that came with plenty of baggage. They made a pair of picks near the end of the third round, but the cost was Jonathan Greenard going to the Philadelphia Eagles. Interim general manager Rob Brzezinski addressed the trade with a blunt assessment.
“Very difficult decision for our organization,” Brzezinski said. “It’s something that we understand is not making our team better today.”
That was fair enough. Greenard had been a major piece for Minnesota, piling up 15 sacks and 131 total pressures over two seasons, according to Pro Football Focus. But if the Vikings were worried about replacing that kind of production, Dallas Turner has spent the last two weeks making the question look a lot less daunting.
Turner was everywhere Sunday afternoon. He produced eight pressures in the first three quarters and capped the game with a walk-off sack of Tyson Bagent. Over the last two weeks, he hasn’t just been the Vikings’ best defender - he’s been one of the NFL’s best pass rushers, full stop.
Brzezinski deserves a place in the story, too, because he understands how this franchise has worked. Minnesota has a history of taking care of its own, even when the writing seems to be on the wall.
There was Anthony Barr in the spring of 2018, headed for the New York Jets before a sleepless night in a New York hotel room helped him realize he had made a mistake. The Vikings responded by bringing him back on an even bigger contract.
Then came Kyle Rudolph in 2019. The Vikings had already drafted Irv Smith Jr. in the second round, but Rudolph showed up to offseason workouts wearing a hoodie that said “LOTS OF GAME LEFT.” Months later, he got a revised contract.
Walking into Year 9 with something to prove.. I’ve got “Lots of game left!”
There's a reason why the windshield is bigger than the rear view mirror. #BackToSkol pic.twitter.com/HVZg7PTEmV
- Kyle Rudolph (@KyleRudolph) April 15, 2019
And of course there was Kirk Cousins, who squeezed every dollar he could out of Minnesota. With a string of fully guaranteed deals, Rick Spielman kept handing him new money, and the Vikings spent six years living through a stretch of 9-8 seasons and a push-off in the Superdome.
Vikings Play of the Day # 17:
January 5, 2020
QB Kirk Cousins hits TE Kyle Rudolph in the corner of the end zone for a game winning overtime TD to beat the Saints in New Orleans. Saints fans thought Rudolph “pushed off” but the officiating crew rightfully called it as fair… https://t.co/RKFaFTrGQN pic.twitter.com/E8lwBZgXrw
- Jason Harmon (@JasonHarmonNFL) June 3, 2023
That was the backdrop for the Greenard situation. Greenard had clearly outplayed his deal and wanted a “ market correction ”, according to SI’s Albert Breer.
With Brzezinski in the interim chair, Kevin O’Connell and Brian Flores also had major input on the personnel side. It had to feel a little like Sonny Weaver Jr. in the middle of a pressure cooker, with the coach, the coordinator and maybe even the Wilfs all pushing for a decision.
Brzezinski ultimately held his ground, knowing that Greenard’s next contract - which became a four-year, $98 million deal - would limit what the next GM could do with the roster. Fans weren’t thrilled with the return, which included a 2026 (Jakobe Thomas) and 2027 third-round pick, but Turner has turned that move into something far more interesting.
It would be one thing if Turner were simply holding his own. He’s gone well beyond that. He looks quicker, stronger and more dangerous than he did in his first two seasons behind Greenard, and even if Brian Flores’ scheme helps put him in favorable spots, Turner is cashing in on them.
Lewis noted on X that Turner entered Monday ranked first in quarterback pressures with 20, quarterback hits with 11 and quick pressures with 10, according to Next Gen Stats. His three sacks are second in the league, and one of them came on the final snap of the Vikings’ 9-3 win over the Bears.
That fits with what Minnesota’s defense has done through two weeks. The group has blitzed Jordan Love and Caleb Williams into submission, and Turner’s upcoming Week 3 matchup with Tristan Wirfs will be another test. Right now, though, he looks like a player who can handle anybody.
That kind of rise also matches the early buzz around him. Christian Darrisaw once said “Holy f***” after seeing Turner in one of his first minicamp practices. Now Turner may be channeling that same energy into a breakout that could put him on track for a massive contract of his own next offseason.
Brzezinski probably never meant to light this fire. But the message may have landed anyway. Dallas Turner has opened the year like an All-Pro, and the Vikings may have found the player they expected all along.
In Other News...
Vikings Young Talent Is Already Separating After Ugly Week 2
The Vikings may have escaped Week 2 with an ugly 9-3 win over the Bears, but the bigger takeaway is how quickly some of the rosters younger pieces are starting to sort themselves out. Minnesota sits atop its division after a game that was more grind than glamour, and that usually gives a coaching staff a clearer read on who can be trusted when the offense is sputtering and every possession matters. Banks was active with six tackles, while Donovan Jackson kept building on a strong start at guard, giving the Vikings reasons to feel good about a couple of key developmental spots.
Elsewhere, the picture was less settled. Tai Felton and Claiborne were unable to carve out much of a role, which only sharpens the competition as the season goes on, and Brett Thorson continued to help flip field position as a punter before the hamstring issue surfaced. For a team trying to protect an early lead in the division, those little separations matter, even if the full answer on the young group is still a week-by-week proposition. [Read more 🡒]
Bears QB Trouble Just Got Worse After That Vikings Game
Tyson Bagents status is the latest quarterback concern to spill out of the Bears meeting with the Vikings, and it leaves Chicagos offense in a tricky spot heading into Week 3. Bagent is now in the NFLs concussion protocol, adding another layer of uncertainty to a QB room already dealing with Caleb Williams hamstring issue, which has him listed week to week.
If Williams cannot go against the Eagles, Case Keenum would be the next man up, a scenario that underscores how quickly the Bears depth chart has thinned. Keenum brings experience, but his recent starting history is limited, with his last starts coming in 2023 and 2018, so Chicagos answer under center could come down to how much health the team can recover in just a few days. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Week 3 Suddenly Puts Pressure On A Rookie First Rounder
The Vikings are keeping an eye on a pair of injury situations this week, with punter Brett Thorson dealing with a hamstring issue and defensive lineman Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins now listed day-to-day with a hip injury. The latter is the one that could have the bigger ripple effect on the defense, because it opens the door for more snaps along the line if Minnesota needs to shuffle its rotation for Week 3.
Caleb Banks is the rookie first-rounder who could stand to benefit most if that happens, and his timing is interesting after a quiet debut gave way to a better showing in Week 2. Banks said he felt more confident after that recent performance, and the Vikings may need that progress to show up quickly if the depth chart is tested again this weekend. [Read more 🡒]