Dallas Turner’s Development Steals A Page Out Of Green Bay’s Playbook

Interest in the NFL Draft has exploded over the past 20 years.

What used to be a random gathering in New York has turned into a three-day extravaganza heading to the upscale environment known as Green Bay in 2025. Fans flock to mock drafts the moment their team is eliminated from playoff contention. Reading about prospects in a magazine on draft day turned into hours (and perhaps days) of watching YouTube highlights in the weeks leading up to the big weekend.

Because of this, football fans love an impact rookie. Minnesota Vikings fans know the feeling when Randy Moss stepped onto the field in 1998. Adrian Peterson took over the league in 2007. Justin Jefferson’s

It’s a moment of validation when a rookie hits immediately. However, when they don’t perform right away, it becomes a test of patience for the fans and the franchise.

This is the tale of Dallas Turner’s rookie season.

Kevin O’Connell looked like a kid who got a Nintendo 64 for Christmas when the Vikings traded up for the Alabama product last April. However, Turner hasn’t put up eye-popping stats even as Minnesota’s defense has become one of the league's best.

Turner’s development hasn’t followed Minnesota's traditional blueprint. However, it may be following a trend that the Green Bay Packers have used to become one of the most consistent teams in the league.

Minnesota took Turner with the 18th-overall pick in the NFL Draft, and people had high expectations for him. After a breakout freshman season with 8.5 sacks, Turner had four in his sophomore year and 10 during an All-American junior season. However, being an elite edge rusher isn’t just about sacks in Nick Saban’s defense. Turner’s Pro Football Focus grade in coverage jumped from 57 in his freshman season to 81 in his final year with the Crimson Tide.

With a 9.49 relative athletic score, Turner was considered a top-10 pick in 2024 until a run on quarterbacks and offensive players pushed him into the back half of the second round. His versatile skillset felt like a dream fit for Brian Flores’ defense. It’s why O’Connell and the rest of the front office acted accordingly on draft night.

The hype train continued when Christian Darrisaw used obscenities to describe Turner’s spin move in offseason OTAs, and Turner notched his first career sack in a Week 1 win over the New York Giants.

But before Turner had cemented his spot in the Ring of Honor, there were some challenges along the way. Turner’s playing time decreased to the point he played only five snaps combined in losses to the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams. Fans began to have a case of rookie PTSD.

For every Moss or Peterson, there’s Troy Williamson or Erasmus James. The Vikings released Lewis Cine after he made a minimal impact in his first two years in Minnesota. Fans still shout obscenities when discussing Laquon Treadwell’s rookie season, which featured one catch for 15 yards. In reality, there are far more seasons like this for rookies than there are Pro Bowl seasons, but it’s not an indictment on a player’s career.

The Packers have known this since Brian Gutenkunst took over as general manager in 2018. His first draft pick, Jaire Alexander, was a full-time starter in his rookie year. However, many of his picks have been developmental projects who have become key pieces.

Rashan Gary was a controversial selection with the 12th-overall pick in 2019. However, after only two sacks in his rookie season, Gary ranks 22nd in the NFL with 36 sacks since the start of the 2020 season.

The following year, they took Jordan Love with the 26th overall pick. He has become a legitimate franchise quarterback after three years of playing behind Aaron Rodgers.

Gary and Love are examples of elite players, but going through the roster shows Green Bay's’ commitment to drafting and developing. Quay Walker and Devonte Wyatt have become key components of the Packers' defense after they selected them in the first round of the 2022 draft. Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, and Kingsley Enagbare also emerged to have crucial roles later in their career.

Jayden Reed and Tucker Kraft also had modest rookie seasons but have become key weapons for Love this year. Lukas Van Ness hasn’t made the leap from his rookie season. Still, he may become a core player in a year. The Packers may have done it again with second-round linebacker Edgerrin Cooper this year.

That's how they must do things with a $55 million quarterback; it’s just not the way that captures the imagination of a fanbase. But there are examples in Vikings history of players taking some time.

Brian Robison was Minnesota's fourth-round pick in 2007 and became Jared Allen’s tag-team partner on the defensive line for the 2009 squad that went to the NFC Championship game. Everson Griffen had a similar path after the Vikings selected him in the fourth round in 2010. So did Danielle Hunter after they took him in the third round in 2015.

Turner’s rookie year hasn’t been the keg of dynamite people thought it would be. Still, he’s showing signs of progress, including a sack in a Week 15 win over the Chicago Bears and an interception in last week’s victory over the Seattle Seahawks. With Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel in front of him, Turner has taken the redshirt year many rookies don’t get and has the opportunity to leap forward next season.

Look at Sam Darnold, the New York Jets started too soon. He recalibrated himself after spending one year with the San Francisco 49ers. It may have never worked in New York or with the Carolina Panthers. Still, the chance to take a deep breath helped him look like the player many thought when he entered the league.

Sometimes, slowing down a player’s development can be a good thing. Turner hasn’t made a huge impact this year. Still, it’s feasible that he could eventually make one and perhaps have an illustrious career like Moss, Peterson, and Jefferson.